Florida Panthers Animal Size

The florida panther is a subspecies of puma concolor also known as mountain lion cougar or puma and represents the only known breeding population of puma in the eastern united states.

Florida panthers animal size. The florida panther is an opportunistic hunter and will eat both small and large animals. In 1967 the department of the interior listed the florida panther as an endangered subspecies. Today the primary threats to the remaining panther population are habitat loss fragmentation and degradation. Perceived as a threat to humans livestock and game animals the species was nearly extinct by the mid 1950s.

The panther is not a distinct species itself but is the general name used to refer to any black coloured feline of the big cat family most notably leopards and jaguars. The florida panther is the only puma also known as cougar and mountain lion population east of the mississippi. Fish and wildlife service service and the florida fish and wildlife conservation commission fwc have updated the estimated number of endangered florida panthers in their breeding range south of the caloosahatchee river. Florida panther member of a population of large new world cats of the species puma concolor family felidae confined to a small isolated and inbred group in southern florida and protected by the u s.

Endangered species act 1973. When european settlers arrived in the 1600s the clear cutting building and other human activities that destroy degrade and fragment habitat began and the fear and misconceptions that. Adult female florida panthers weigh 29 45 5 kg 64 100 lb. Generally florida panthers live in forested areas.

Like other species of wild cats the florida panther is a carnivore. Florida panthers once prowled and flourished in woodlands and swamps throughout the southeast. Due primarily to hunting and habitat fragmentation florida panthers almost died out by the 1970s when there were fewer than 20 left. Hares and mice are as much a part of this cat s diet as pigs.

Florida panthers lack the ability to roar and instead make distinct sounds that include whistles chirps growls hisses and purrs. Florida panthers are the only breeding group of pumas in the eastern united states. Florida panthers were heavily hunted after 1832 when a bounty on panthers was created. Florida panther population estimate updated.

These habitats are for the protection of the florida panther. The updated population estimate is 120 to 230 adult and subadult florida panthers according to a. The panther is a stealthy hunter image from adobe stock. The panther is an elusive and powerful animal that has adapted well to a variety of habitats around the world and is known to be one of the strongest climbers of all felines.

The remaining population was seriously inbred.