| Puma, also cougar or mountain lion, carnivore of North and South America with thick fur that ranges from reddish-brown in tropical forms to bluish-gray in northern forms. It is lighter on the sides, and the muzzle, chin, throat, breast, and insides of the legs are whitish. The puma is found from British Columbia to Patagonia. Its body can be up to 1.95 m (up to 6.4 ft) long, exclusive of its long tail. The head is relatively small, with a black spot above each eye. The female bears two to four young in a litter; the young have dark brown spots on the back, and the tail is ringed. Pumas hunt elk, deer, and smaller mammals. Because ranchers suspect them of killing cattle, the animals have been exterminated or are endangered in many areas.Scientific classification: The puma belongs to the family Felidae. It is classified as Puma concolor. |
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