Description: The puma, also known as mountain lion or cougar, is a large solitary cat native to the Americas. This majestic feline is characterized by its slender, muscular body, its uniformly colored coat that ranges from light beige to darker brown, and its long tail that helps maintain balance while hunting. Pumas are highly adaptable animals, capable of inhabiting a variety of ecosystems, from mountains and forests to deserts and urban areas. Their range is one of the widest of all felines, spanning from southern Canada to southern South America. Despite their size and strength, pumas are known for being stealthy and cunning hunters, using their agility and camouflage skills to stalk their prey, which includes deer, rodents, and other mammals. This large cat plays a crucial role in ecosystem balance, acting as a top predator that helps control populations of other species. Its presence in popular culture and in the mythology of various civilizations also highlights its symbolic importance, representing strength, agility, and mystery in the natural world.
