Pumas is a biologically invalid genus-level term in current zoological taxonomy for the felid commonly known as the cougar, puma, or mountain lion; the accepted genus is Puma within the family Felidae. The genus Puma comprises primarily the species Puma concolor and, in some classifications, the closely related Puma yagouaroundi (jaguarundi). Members of this genus are characterized by a robust, medium-to-large body, long tail, digitigrade locomotion, and cranial and dental traits typical of felines specialized for hypercarnivory. The term “pumas” should be interpreted as referring to multiple individuals of the genus Puma rather than a distinct genus.
A team of researchers from The University of Texas at El Paso has uncovered new evidence explaining why the rattlesnake's rattle—one of nature's most iconic warning signals—has persisted and proven so effective across millions ...
Plants & Animals
Mar 11, 2026
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Should we protect an emblematic species if it may come at the cost of another one—particularly in ecosystems that are still recovering from human impacts? This is the conservation dilemma facing Monte Leon National Park, ...
Plants & Animals
Feb 4, 2026
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A 77-pound mountain lion set off a scramble Tuesday as it wandered through San Francisco's wealthy Pacific Heights neighborhood before finally being captured as onlookers safely peered from their home windows or stood across ...
Ecology
Jan 28, 2026
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A young mountain lion spotted roaming the streets of San Francisco has been located near a park where wildlife officials are trying to capture it, authorities said Tuesday.
Ecology
Jan 27, 2026
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California wildlife authorities are urging residents of a small Central California town to lock up their pets and secure livestock following a series of mountain lion attacks.
Ecology
Jan 5, 2026
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42
Previous research set off alarm bells by showing that mountain lion populations across California are more different genetically than normal for a wide-roaming predator. New findings published in Frontiers in Ecology and ...
Plants & Animals
Dec 4, 2025
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