Biology
Reproductive Season (W):
Probably year-round (Sweanor and Logan 1992, Ross and Jalkotzy 1992), although
most births are reported to occur in the warmer months of Apr-Sept in the north of their range
(Robinette et al. 1961, Eaton and Verlander 1977, Ashman et al. 1983, Lindzey 1987).
In the Torres del Paine National Park in southern Chile, all known births (n=4) took place
between Feb-Jun (Johnson et al. in press)
Estrus (C): 8 days
Estrus cycle (C): 23 days (Hansen 1992)
Gestation (C & W): 91.9 ±4 days
Litter Size (C & W):
Average 2.2-2.7 (Anderson 1983, Currier 1983, Ross and Jalkotzy 1992); range 1-6;
possibly only single kitten first litter (Lindzey 1987)
Cub Survival (W):
Hemker et al. (1986) estimated survival of cubs to dispersal at 67% in a non-hunted
population in southern Utah, and suggested that cub survival would be less in hunted
populations, particularly if hunting seasons coincided with seasonal birth peaks. However,
Ross and Jalkotzy (1992) found 97% cub survival in a hunted population
Age at Sexual Maturity (W):
Both sexes 24 months, and females sometimes as early as 20 months (Lindzey 1987, F. Lindzey
unpubl. data), but time of first breeding probably depends on when a female is able to
establish her territory (Hornocker 1970, Seidensticker et al. 1973). Logan et al.
(1986) found that females only entered the breeding population at age 3-4 years in their
hunted study population in Wyoming. Females in stable populations rarely breed with more than
one male during estrus (Hemker 1982)
Recruitment Rates (W):
1.0-1.3 kittens per breeding female (Alberta: Jalkotzy et al. 1992)
Interbirth Interval (W):
Can be one year (Robinette et al. 1961), but more generally 18-24 months
(Lindzey 1987)
Adult Sex Ratio (W):
Most studies report 2:1 female:male ratio of breeding adults, although other ratios, both higher
and lower, have been found (reviewed by Beier 1993)
Adult Mortality Rates (W):
Natural mortality appears to be low, on the order of <5% (Hornocker 1970, Currier et al. 1977,
Ashman et al. 1983, Murphy 1983, Logan et al. 1986). Mortality caused by sport hunting can be
high, particularly among adult and sub-adult males. Sport hunting in Alberta accounted for 63% of
known mortality of radio-collared pumas (n=10 of 16) from 1981-1989, and 100% of sub-adult males
(n=5) (Ross and Jalkotzy 1992). Mortality caused by intraspecific conflict may be higher in
both populations which are hunted, where immigrants compete to establish territories (Logan
et al. 1986), and in populations where food resources are relatively scarce, such as the arid desert
of New Mexico (Hornocker 1992, Sweanor and Logan 1992)
Longevity:
(W): Probably 8-10 (Hansen 1992), but up to 12-13 years (Currier 1983),
and a female puma on Canada’s Vancouver island was killed by hunters when she was at least 18
years old (M. Jalkotzy in litt. 1993);
(C): Up to 21 years (Hansen 1992)
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