A home-owner noticed probably the most endangered mammals within the U.S., a Florida panther, crossing by means of his yard in Naples, Florida. A subspecies of mountain lion, the Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) is way rarer than its cousins out west. The Nature Conservancy experiences there are probably solely a pair hundred of those animals left within the wild, and so they solely reside in southern Florida.
In a video of the second posted to X, you’ll be able to see the Florida panther strolling by means of a big yard. At one level, the animal stops and appears immediately on the individual filming. Then, it strikes on in the identical route, this time at a light-weight trot.
Mountain lions have many names within the Americas, together with pumas, catamounts, cougars, and panthers. For no matter cause, this Florida-specific subspecies is thought by and huge because the Florida panther.
See a uncommon Florida panther trot by means of a Naples yard right here:
Florida panther noticed not too long ago in Naples crossing by means of a yard. Fairly good dimension too! 🐆 Credit score: @WINKNews viewer Sebastian S #Florida pic.twitter.com/RArsFl8jam
— Matt Devitt (@MattDevittWX) July 31, 2024
The Nationwide Wildlife Federation (NWF) says one option to distinguish between a Florida panther and different mountain lion species is to take a look at the tail and again.
“Florida panthers normally have a crooked tail and a singular patch of fur on the again,” NWF says. “The again fur is sort of like a cowlick, not conforming to the remainder of the panther’s fur.”
Nevertheless, NWF factors out that kinked tails and cowlicks usually are not “true subspecies variations.” Somewhat, they’re a consequence of inbreeding and poor genetic variation, because the Florida panther inhabitants is so depleted.
