Mammal
The puma
Puma concolor
The puma, Puma concolor, is a carnivorous mammal from the Felidae family which lives in forests, mountains and deserts throughout America and South America.
Distinctive features
Young pumas are born with black spots and do not acquire their uniform fur until they are sixteen months old.
This feared predator can leap up to four metres high without a run-up and jump ten metres! It can also run at speeds of up to 70 km/h.
The patagonian puma: an endangered species
The expansion of agricultural areas is reducing the puma's territory and hunting activities are making its prey increasingly scarce. They are sometimes shot directly by farmers when they attack livestock. Hunting the puma is even legal in several western US states, although it was banned by referendum in California in 1990. Many South American countries have banned its hunting.
