Fun Facts
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The Florida panther’s leap can cover more than fifteen feet, helping it to catch its prey in one bound.
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Although they hunt a range of animals, there are no documented cases of attacks on humans in Florida.
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Unlike other cats such as lions and tigers, the Florida panther (and the puma) is unable to roar because it does not have the flexible hyoid that other felines have.
Background
The Puma concolor – also known as the largest of the small cats – is split into 15 subspecies that can be found throughout North and South America. Because of the large range of this species, its members are locally referred to by many names, including puma, cougar, mountain lion, and panther. While they may be labeled by different names, these cats are facing the same threats of decreasing populations due to habitat loss. One subspecies of the Puma concolor, the Florida Panther is the only remaining puma found in the Eastern United States. The Florida Panther has faced a serious deduction in historical range, making it a critically endangered species. Historically the Florida Panther has been found throughout the Gulf Coast states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas and in the state Arkansas. The Florida Panther is currently isolated to the Southern tip of Florida. With increasing threats to the species such as pollution and climate change these historic trends will only continue.
Apperance
When Florida Panthers are born, their fur is patched with black and brown spots to help them camouflage from predators that might prey on them. These spots fade away as the panthers grow up – disappearing completely when young reach the age of six months – but the black stripes at the tips of their tales stay with them throughout their entire life. Adult panthers are tan in color with darker fur along their spines, a dull white underside, and dark fur near the tip of their tail. Most male panthers can grow to be almost seven feet long when measured from their nose to the tip of their tail. On average, most males weigh between 102-160 pounds. On the other hand, female panthers are slightly smaller in size. They can grow to be about six feet long and only weigh an average of 50-115 pounds.
Diet and Hunting
Because of their dietary habits, the Florida Panther can also be considered as an umbrella species. (An umbrella species is one whose conservation will help to ensure that other species remain conserved at the ecosystem level.) Because they have great speed over short distances, Florida panthers are opportunistic predators. Panthers hunt their prey by using the landscape to sneak up on prey until they get close enough to pounce on them. If the prey notices and tries to run, the panther will then be able to catch them without too much of a chase. The hunting patterns of panthers keep prey populations balanced and healthy by promoting the fitness of species eaten by the panther. The diet of the panther consists of larger animals such as white-tailed deer and wild hogs, but they will also eat smaller mammals including rabbits, raccoons, armadillos, and birds. In some cases, they have also been known to prey on unsupervised livestock and pets which has created conflicts between humans and the panther.