India is known to be the homeland of many wild exotic species for both plants and animals. Even in unexplored mountain ranges and deep forests, one could find many endemic species there which are not even explored or studied.
Key Takeaways
- Pumas and cougars are two names for the same large cat species, Puma concolor, found across the Americas.
- These animals are also known as mountain lions or panthers, adding to the confusion about their names.
- Pumas/cougars are adaptable predators, thriving in various habitats and preying on various animals.
Pumas vs Cougar
Pumas and cougars are different names for the same species of a large feline, Puma concolor. “Puma” is more common in South America. “Cougar” is used more in North America and can sometimes refer specifically to older females.
This is so because to easily stalk upon their prey like – deer, goats, bighorn sheep, etc. These are heavy that is so because, on average, puma weighs around 220 pounds.
On an average basis, cougar weighs up to 150 pounds, and they are native to the ranges of the southern Andes and northern Yukon. The size of the cougars is said to be up to 8 feet.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Pumas | Cougar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Felis concolour | Puma concolour |
| Habitat | They are found in arid regions, grasslands, and tropical forests | Almost in every type of habitat |
| Diet | Large animals like – raccoons, coati, deer, bighorn sheep, goats, etc | Carnivorous animals like – moose, elk, badger, coyote, etc |
| Found in | South and North America | Mountain ranges of the southern Andes and northern Yukon |
| Weight | Male – 115 – 220 pounds Female – 64 – 141 pounds | Male – 150 pounds Female – 121 pounds |
| Size | Ranges between 6 feet to 8 feet | Up to 8 feet |
| Enemies | Beer and wolves | Beer and wolves only but due to food competition |
| Lifespan | 12 to 25 years | 10 to 20 years |
What is Pumas?
Pumas is a cat family member and native to North and South America. The appearance of the pumas is said to be dull, and the color of the fur coat of their body varies from silver-grey to reddish-brown.
The paws and claws of the mammals are large, and they have round faces and erected ears, the size of the tail is also large. The average size of weight of a male is about 115 to 220 pounds, and the average size weight of a female is about 64 to 141 pounds.
The mammal’s height or size varies from 6 feet to 8 feet. The major enemies of the animal are beer and wolves.
What is Cougar?
Cougar is also a member of the cat family, and the native place of the species is the ranges of the southern Andes and northern Yukon. The cat has a fur coat with a greyish-tan to reddish hue in color.
But unlikely, they have very large paws helping them in hunting down their prey more effectively. The scientific name thus given to the species by the IUCN is Puma concolour.
The average weight of the male cougar is about 150 pounds, and the average weight of the female is about 121 pounds. The height of the mammal is about 8 feet long, while the average lifespan of the species is considered as 10 to 20 years.
Main Differences Between Pumas and Cougar
- The main enemies said to be for pumas are the bear and wolves, while comparatively, on the other hand, the main enemies of cougars are also bears and wolves due to the competition for food.
- The lifespan of a puma is up to 12 years, and when they are held captivated is 25 years, while comparatively, on the other hand, the lifespan of the cougar is about 10 to 12 years.
References
- https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2006.00215.x
- https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/full/10.1139/cjz-2012-0147
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13364-016-0292-y
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