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Mountain lions, found almost everywhere in the Americas, are some of the most incredible predators you’ll encounter in the Western Hemisphere. Not exactly big cats, these American lions are known for their uniqueness, from world records to feline qualities. Don’t believe us? Here are 11 mountain lion facts that will show you how incredible these cats are, we are not “lions”!
1. Mountain lions have more names than any other animal in the world.
Did you know that mountain lions, cougars and cougars are one and the same animal? At the moment, mountain lions hold the record for the number of names with 40 different nicknames. Some of the more common mountain lion alternative names are:
- Puma
- Puma
- Panther
- Catamount
- Painter
- Mountain screamer
- Mexican lion
- Red lion
- Ghost cat
- American lion.
Although in everyday life you can see him mostly as a mountain lion, scientists often prefer to call these secretive predators “cougars”. This is because of their scientific name – Puma concolor.
Mountain lions have many names, but it is important not to confuse them with other American cats such as bobcats or bobcats. While cats are still cool, they are different animals than a mountain lion.
2. Mountain lions do not roar
… But this does not mean that they do not communicate in many other ways! Mountain lions have a larynx that is different from the larynx of most big cats, such as tigers and lions. As a result, they communicate in different ways, such as chirping, growling, squealing, and even purring.
3. Mountain lions live in almost all ecosystems in America.
With a varied diet and the ability to live in everything from rainforests to deserts and snow-capped mountains, you can find mountain lions in almost every ecosystem in the Americas.
4. The largest mountain lion ever recorded, weighed 276 pounds.
While mountain lions rarely weigh more than 200 pounds, one record ghost cat weighed 276 pounds! By comparison, that’s more than the giant panda, which weighs around 245 pounds on average. It is also roughly the average size of a female lion, which weighs in at around 280 pounds.
5. Lion cubs have blue eyes and spots.
If you’ve ever found a mountain lion cub in the wild, you probably wouldn’t have recognized it!
When mountain lions are born first, and even when they grow up, they are very different from their adult counterparts. What are the most noticeable differences? Their blue eyes and dark spots on their fur. As they grow older, their eyes will turn yellow and the spots will fade away, transforming into the iconic reddish coat, and in just a few weeks they will be almost unrecognizable. If you liked this fun fact, lion cubs display exactly the same traits!
6. One of the subspecies of the mountain lion is under great threat of extinction.
Although mountain lions are known for their ability to live in virtually every ecosystem in the Americas, there is one subspecies that has been threatened with extinction for several decades.
The Florida panther, one of the subspecies of the mountain lion, has been listed as endangered since 1967. One of the main causes identified was human development, which is destroying the mountain lion’s habitat and making it difficult for them to access food. Roads also pose a great danger to mountain lions, especially as they tend to roam at night, where drivers may not notice them until it’s too late.
However, decades of conservation efforts have helped increase the population from a few dozen to 120-230 adult mountain lions currently living, the Florida Wildlife Administration estimates in 2021.
7. Mountain lions can accelerate up to 50 miles per hour.
One of the coolest mountain lion facts? Proportionally, they have the largest legs of any member of the feline family. This helps the mountain lions adapt to different situations and terrain, but most importantly, it helps them reach impressive speeds of up to 50 miles per hour!
While they can only maintain this top speed for a short period of time, they can maintain speeds up to 10 mph for long distance sprints.
This is one of the reasons why, if you ever run into a mountain lion, you should never run away – after all, at 50 mph, they won’t let you get too far. Instead, stay calm, stand up straight, and slowly back away. Making yourself as big and loud as possible can also help, as mountain lions are opportunistic hunters and are more likely to be reluctant to fight.
8. Mountain lion attacks are rare.
In fact, they are so rare that many statisticians say that you are more likely to be struck by lightning than attacked by a mountain lion. This is mainly due to the fact that encounters between humans and mountain lions are so rare, and when they do occur, mountain lions are easily frightened off.
9. Mountain lions jump well.
Mountain lions’ large legs allow them not only to run fast – they can also jump up to 18 feet off the ground! This is important for hunting, especially since mountain lions expect to ambush their prey for success.
10. The tracks of the mountain lion have no claw marks.
One of the easiest ways to distinguish a mountain lion’s footprint from other animals? Look for claws – or rather, their absence.
Like most other species of the feline family, mountain lions have the ability to remove their claws. This means that unless you look at particularly rugged terrain, you usually won’t see claw marks in their tracks.
Another way to know if the footprints you are dealing with are a mountain lion or not, is to look at the prominent “M” on their main paw pad. Remember: “M” is a mountain lion!
11. Mountain lions are an important part of indigenous culture.
Known for their strength and grace, mountain lions are common symbols in Native American culture, from mythology to art. While mountain lions are viewed by some indigenous peoples as symbols of bad omens, many consider these apex predators to be sacred and revered animals such as the Inca and Cherokee people.
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