Florida panthers: surviving cougar lineage with South American genetic ties. Florida panthers are cougars from puma lineage with ancestors likely originating in the Americas North American cougars experienced genetic bottleneck/extirpation during late Pleistocene (10,000+ years ago) during Younger Dryas large mammal extinctions Recolonization came from small founding population likely from eastern South America
Florida panthers are cougars whose ancestors survived Pleistocene extinctions, with modern populations descended from a small South American founding group. By the 1970s, only a few hundred remained. They can't roar, just whistle and purr. Historical panthers were smaller, around 40-45 pounds.
Key Facts
- Florida panthers are cougars from puma lineage with ancestors likely originating in the Americas
- North American cougars experienced genetic bottleneck/extirpation during late Pleistocene (10,000+ years ago) during Younger Dryas large mammal extinctions
- Recolonization came from small founding population likely from eastern South America
- Historical range included southeastern US: Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, parts of Tennessee and South Carolina
- By 1970s only few hundred remained in South Florida, leading to 'Florida panther' designation
- Panthers spotted at birth with blue eyes, spots fade and coat becomes tan with yellow eyes, creamy white underbelly, black tail and ear tips
- Florida panthers cannot roar, instead making whistles, chirps, growls, hisses, and purrs
- Adult females weigh 64-100 pounds, males 100-165 pounds, total body length up to 7.2 feet, shoulder height 28 inches
- True historical Florida panthers were smaller (40-45 pounds) than current eastern mountain lion descendants (130 pounds)
- Rick Osmon reported sighting a black jaguar in southern Indiana in 1968 with large footprints estimated 400 pound cat
Source: The Roundtable Chronicles - Ep. 23 by Institute for Natural Philosophy