Puma concolor (Linnaeus, 1771)

Fonda, Federica, Vezzani, Liam, Mena Aguilar, Luis Ángel, Venegas-Elizondo, Carlos Andrés, Bolaños Brenes, Alexander, Lopez, Dayron Manuel, Romeo, Giuseppe, Sonetti, Dario & Dal Zotto, Matteo, 2025, Mammal diversity and tourism influence in an under-investigated region of Costa Rica, ZooKeys 1260, pp. 37-74 : 37-74

Puma concolor (Linnaeus, 1771)

Fig. 3 E Puma

Material examined.

Costa Rica • Puntarenas Province, Karen Mogensen Wildlife Refuge ; 09°52'24"N, 085°03'30"W; 362 m alt.; 10.04.2018; camera trapping .

Identification.

Large-sized cat. The only larger felid in Costa Rica is the jaguar Panthera onca (Linnaeus, 1758) which was present in the Wildlife Refuge until the 1970 s (L. A. Mena Aguilar pers. obs.). The fur varies in colour from pale to reddish brown. Often black and white facial markings and a black tip on the tail. It may be confused with the red phase of H. yagouaroundi but is considerably larger ( Wainwright 2007). The most widespread wildcat of the world, with a range expanding from Alaska to the southern tip of South America ( Reid and Gόmez Zamora 2022). Records of females with cubs confirm that this species breeds within the Wildlife Refuge or in its vicinity (see also the Discussion chapter). Rare in the study area; recorded in different habitat types.

Figures

Figure 3. Camera-trapped mammals in the Karen Mogensen Wildlife Refuge. A. Didelphis marsupialis; B. Tamandua mexicana; C. Eira barbara; D. Lontra annectens; E. Puma concolor; F. Leopardus pardalis.