The puma is a large, muscular wild cat that holds the distinction of being the most widespread land mammal in the Western Hemisphere. Adult males typically weigh 115-220 pounds and measure 6-8 feet long (including their 2-3 foot tail), while females are smaller at 64-140 pounds. Their coat is usually tawny, tannish-brown, or reddish-brown with lighter cream or white undersides. Unlike leopards and jaguars, adult pumas have no spots or markings. Their heads are small and rounded with short, rounded ears, and they have powerful jaws and sharp retractable claws perfect for catching prey.

Pumas are solitary animals that only come together to mate. They're primarily crepuscular, meaning they're most active during dawn and dusk, though they can hunt day or night. Males and females maintain separate territories that they mark with scratch marks on trees, urine, and piles of dirt or leaves. Females give birth to litters of 1-6 kittens (usually 2-3) in dens hidden in caves, rock crevices, or dense vegetation. Kittens stay with their mother for 12-24 months, learning essential hunting skills before venturing out to establish their own territories. Young pumas face significant challenges - about 50% don't survive their first year due to starvation, disease, or being killed by adult male pumas, wolves, or bears.

Historically, pumas roamed throughout North and South America, but human expansion dramatically reduced their range in eastern North America. Today, they're considered a species of "least concern" overall by conservation groups because of their large remaining population and wide range. However, the Florida panther subspecies is critically endangered with only about 120-230 individuals remaining. Pumas face threats from habitat loss, human development fragmenting their territories, vehicle collisions, and conflicts with ranchers protecting livestock. Despite these challenges, puma populations in western North America remain relatively healthy due to conservation efforts and protected wilderness areas. These magnificent cats play a crucial role in ecosystems by controlling deer and other prey populations, preventing overgrazing that can damage plant communities.

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