The mountain lion is also known by the names puma, cougar, catamount or panther.
Of all the animals in the world this cat holds the world record for the highest number of different English names, numbering more than 40!
The mountain lion is the second largest cat in the Americas next to the jaguar and is the fourth largest cat in the world after tiger, lion and jaguar.
Young cubs are covered in spots which totally fade as they grow older. The spots may help to camouflage the cubs form other predators such as jaguars, bears or wolves which may try to kill them.
Cubs have a high mortality rate with only 1 in 6 reaching adulthood. The high mortality rate is possibly due to cubs been killed by other predators.
Problem mountain lions are also shot by humans resulting in orphaned cubs which normally starve to death.
The mountain lions diet consists of deer, moose, elk, beavers, squirrels and birds. They have also been known to prey on lone wolves, foxes and coyotes.
On a full belly these cats can go over 10 ten days before having to hunt again.
They are very powerful jumpers and can jump at a height of 16 feet (4.8 meters) and distance of 40 feet (12 meters)!
Of all the land mammals in the Americas they have the largest geographical range.
The mountain lion can reach a top running speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).
The mountain lion is the largest cat in the world that is capable of purring.
Human deaths by mountain lions are very rare but numerous cases have been recorded. An old or sickly mountain lion may try attack a human out of desperation.
An attack may also occur if the animal feels threatened or if the human concerned runs away and instinctively is chased by the lion.
