Puma

The puma (Puma concolor) is a type of predator-feline found in North, Central, and South America. Even though it is large in size this cat can purr and is therefore considered a small cat. It is more closely related to the common house cat than to the african lion. It is also known by the regional names of cougar, mountain lion, panther, catamount, and painted cat. The word puma comes from the Quechua language. In North America, particularly the United States, panther by itself refers to a puma, although the term black panther is more commonly associated with the melanistic variants of leopards or jaguars rather than pumas. In Europe and Asia, panther means leopard and can refer to either the spotted or black leopard. In South America, panther refers to the jaguar and can refer to either the spotted or black jaguar.

Related Topics:
North - Central - South America - Quechua language - United States - Melanistic - Leopard - Jaguar

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Recent DNA analysis has established that the puma is quite closely related to the jaguarundi and, surprisingly, to the cheetah (which is usually placed in its own subfamily). However, further research has shown that North American cheetahs (Miracinonyx, now extinct) are close relatives of the Puma, but not of true cheetah.

Related Topics:
DNA analysis - Jaguarundi - Cheetah - Subfamily - Miracinonyx

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The puma is not closely related to other large felines, such as leopards and lions.

Related Topics:
Feline - Leopard - Lion

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

There is a considerable variation in color and size of these animals across their large range of habitats.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~