Florida Panther

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

For the NHL hockey team by this name, see Florida Panthers.

Florida Panther Conservation status: Critical
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Subfamily: Felinae Genus: Puma Species: P. concolor Subspecies: P. c. coryi
Trinomial name
Puma concolor coryi

The Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) is a critically endangered subspecies of Puma that lives in the low pinelands, palm forests and swamps of southern Florida in the United States, especially near the Big Cypress National Preserve [1]. This panther, the only Puma representative in the eastern United States, currently occupies only 5% of its historic range. There are fewer than 70 breeding individuals.

It eats rabbits, deer, raccoons, and even alligators. However, contrary to popular belief, this big cat does not eat people.

It is honored in the NHL, as it is the name of the Florida Panthers.

[edit] References

• Cat Specialist Group (1996). Puma concolor ssp. coryi. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this subspecies is critically endangered and the criteria used
• Beier, P, MR Vaughan, MJ Conroy, and H Quigley. 2003, An analysis of scientific literature related to the Florida panther: Submitted as final report for Project NG01-105, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Tallahassee, FL. 203 pp. [2]
• Beier, P, MR Vaughan, MJ Conroy, and H Quigley. 2006. Evaluating scientific inferences about the Florida Panther. Journal of Wildlife Management 70:236-245. [3]
• Conroy, MJ, P Beier, H Quigley, and MR Vaughan. 2006. Improving the use of science in conservation: lessons from the Florida panther. Journal of Wildlife Management 70:1-7. [4]
• Kostyack, J and K Hill. 2005. Giving Away the Store. [5]
• Kostyack, J and K Hill. 2004. Discrediting a Decade of Panther Science: Implications of the Scientific Review Team Report. [6]

[edit] External links

• Florida Panther Net - the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's educational page
• Florida Panther - National Park Service website
• The Florida Panther Society, Inc.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Press Release on new Draft Recovery Plan