Cougar

Puma concolor

The cougar, also known as mountain lion or puma, has the widest geographic range of any wild land animal in the Western Hemisphere. A stealthy ambush predator, it kills prey with a precise bite to the nape of the neck.

Mass (typical / record)

62 kg

Top speed

72 km/h

Body length

1.2 m

Diet

Carnivore

Habitats

mountains, forest, desert

Bite force (est.): 350 PSI · IUCN: LC (Least Concern)

Holds the Guinness record for the animal with the most common names, puma, cougar, mountain lion, panther, catamount, and dozens more. Sacred to many Indigenous American peoples as a symbol of leadership.