Cougar Felis concolor
Order Carnivore flesh-eating mammals of great diversity in habitat and appearance
Suborder Pinnipedia– mostly marine and Suborder Fissipedia– mostly land-living
Suborder Fissipedia
- long pointed canine teeth
- 3 incisors on both sides of both jaws
- a divided foot with 4 toes
Family Felidae Cats (have sharp, flesh-cutting cheek teeth, ours all have retractable claws)
Prey: deer, also small mammals like skunks, & porcupines.
Habitat: widespread in western U.S. Uses steep canyons, boulders, and dense Vegetation to remain hidden while hunting
Traits include:
- sharp, flesh-cutting cheek teeth.
- Are solitary and secretive
- known for their ability to jump using powerful legs
- have a powerful jaw that enables it to take down kill prey larger than itself
- largest cat in N. America
- Black tipped tail
- Females: 25% smaller than males
- Color varies from reddish-brown, to tawny, to gray.
3 species in Pacific Northwest : bobcat, lynx, & cougar (all with retractable claws).
