Scientific Classification

Common Name

Florida Panther

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Carnivora

Family

Felidae

Genus Species

Felis concolor coryi  (plain - refers to the coat color)

Fast Facts

Description

Mountain lions are the largest species of cat native to North America. Their coats are typically a uniform silver-gray, tawny or reddish-brown in color although some are occasionally melanistic (black) and rarely albino. Kittens tend to have a spotted coat and blue eyes. Physically, Florida panthers differ slightly from other Felis concolor subspecies – they are darker in color, they have longer legs with smaller feet, and are lighter in weight.
Male:  Adult males tend to be larger than mature females.

Size

Male: Mature males measure more than 2 m (6.6 ft.) from the nose to the tip of the tail, and stand 60 to 70 cm (24 to 28 in.) at the shoulders.
Female:  Adult females measure about 1.8 m (6 ft.) in length from the nose to the tip of the tail.

Weight

Male: Wild adult males weigh from 48 to 67 kg (106 to 148 lbs.)
Female: Adult females weigh about 29 to 45 kg (65 to 100 lbs.)

Diet

An adult Florida panther needs to eat about 35–50 deer-sized animals each year, although females with cubs may need twice that amount. Besides white-tailed deer, Florida panthers may eat rabbits, wild hogs, birds, armadillos, rats, carrion, and grass. There is even a documented report of the panthers eating two alligators in the Everglades National Park.

Incubation

Gestational period 90 to 95 days; On average, females give birth to 1 to  4 kittens and care for their kittens in dens usually in areas of dense palmetto trees.

Estral Period

Estral period 8 days, the cycle lasts 23 days. Females of this species are induced ovulators, triggered by copulation an egg is released from the ovary.

Nursing Duration

9 to 12 months (wean)

Sexual Maturity

Male: 26 to 30 months
Female:  22 to 23 months

Life Span

10 to 12 years or more

Range

Florida

Habitat

Typically found in remote and fairly undisturbed areas with abundant prey and cover

Population

Global:  Between 30 to 50 panthers

Status 

IUCN: Critically Endangered (for F.c.coryi and F.c.couguar)
CITES: Appendix I (for F.c.coryi)
USFWS:  Endangered

Fun Facts

1. The Florida panther is the only mountain lion subspecies found east of the Mississippi River. The few remaining wild individuals live in remote wilderness areas.
2. Florida panthers can leap more than 4 m (15 ft.) when pouncing on their prey. There are no documented cases of attacks on humans in Florida.
3. Although mountain lions are one of the largest species of cat found in North America, they actually have more in common with the house cat than a lion or tiger. Unlike other large cats, mountain lions lack a flexible hyoid and are unable to roar.

Ecology and Conservation

With a population that numbers only between 30 to 50 individuals, Florida panthers have become one of most rare and endangered animals in the United States. The greatest threat to Florida panthers is habitat loss. These animals require large territories of undisturbed land with sufficient prey.

A simple road may divide panther habitat, resulting in fewer breeding opportunities. With Florida panthers being separated from potential mates, they are forced to breed within a very small stock. Inbreeding has become a disturbing new pitfall. The close proximity of the road presents deadly hazard to the panthers. From 1978 to 1988, cars on the roadways in Florida killed 11 panthers. Currently, wildlife crossing signs, fences and underpasses help reduce deaths from collisions with automobiles.

Other pressures facing Florida panthers include exposure to domestic cat and dog diseases such as parvovirus, feline leukemia, feline HIV and rabies. Because the population numbers are so low in this subspecies, these animals may have less effective immune systems resulting from inbreeding and be more prone to disease or parasite infection.

This is the official state mammal of Florida, and state law as well as the Endangered Species Act protects Florida panthers.

Bibliography

Nowak, Ronald M. (ed.). Walker's Mammals of the World. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1991.

Parker, S. (ed.). Grizmek's Encyclopedia of Mammals. New York: McGraw-Hill Publishing Co., 1990.

www.endangered.fws.gov

Florida Panther Net: www.panther.state.fl.us

IUCN cat specialist group: http://lynx.uio.no/catfolk/puma-08.htm

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu