{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "cougar",
  "name": "Cougar",
  "scientificName": "Puma concolor",
  "category": "Mammal",
  "summary": "The cougar, also called puma, mountain lion, or panther, is a large solitary cat with the widest range of any wild land mammal in the Americas, from Canada to the southern Andes. It is a powerful ambush predator that hunts deer and other prey, and despite its size it is not classed among the \"big cats\" because it cannot roar. Cougars can leap great distances and run fast over short bursts. In the wild they typically live 8 to 13 years.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Mammalia",
    "order": "Carnivora",
    "family": "Felidae",
    "genus": "Puma"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 80,
    "lengthM": 2.4,
    "topSpeedKmh": 80,
    "lifespanYears": 11
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Puma concolor"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Carnivore"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Mountains, forests, and deserts"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "8–13 years in the wild"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "29–90 kg (64–200 lb)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to 80 km/h (50 mph) in short bursts"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Mountains, forests, and deserts from western Canada through the United States to the southern Andes of South America.",
    "continents": [
      "North America",
      "South America"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "Nielsen, C. et al. (2015). Puma concolor. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.",
      "url": null
    },
    {
      "citation": "Nowak, R. M. (1999). Walker's Mammals of the World (6th ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press.",
      "url": null
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Puma concolor. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Puma_concolor/"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/cougar/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/cougar/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}