B) Physical Description: Puma are fawn or greyish-brown in color and have no spots as adults. 2 Their short fur is light brown in summer and grayish in winter. 3 The throat, chest, chin and whiskers are white. 3 They have long black-tipped tails, which can reach a length of 90 cm. 2 They have rounded and short ears, light inside and black all around. 3 Cougars are known for their large front legs and powerful hind legs, which allow them to be good at jumping. 2 Their average weight is 60-100 kg for males and 35-60 kg for females. 2 Their length can vary from 5 to 9 feet. 3 Cougars can be mistaken for bobcats, fishers and coyotes. 3 The best way to recognize a cougar is to check their tracks: 2-Their tracks have 3 lobes on the back (dogs and coyotes have 1 indentation)-Their toes are shaped like teardrops (dogs and bobcats are oval shaped )- Their tracks are about 3-3.5 inches wide (Bobcat tracks are obviously smaller) - They rarely have visible claw marks (dogs and coyotes have visible claw marks)C) Habitat: A variety of habitats used from pumas include coniferous, deciduous and tropical forests, grasslands, swamps and semi-deserts. They can be found everywhere, from sea level up to 4500 meters above sea level. They prefer habitats with lots of cover and prey. They share many habitats with the Jaguar Panthera onca. The eastern puma is a (tertiary) carnivore and feeds on many different types of organisms. D) Ecological importance: they are the main predators in their ecosystems. 2 They help control populations of large hooved mammals. 2 Without pumas, herbivores, such as deer, reproduce at a high and fast rate and pose a threat of consuming all vegetation, which would then drive out other... middle of paper... avian adaptations that aid them in survival. Some physiological adaptations include the sense of hearing and sight. Their ability to hear high frequencies helps capture mice as prey, even when they are hidden under leaves or snow. Their large eyes help in spotting prey, as they can see up to 285 degrees. The retina of the puma's eyes has more rods than cones, which is a sign of night vision. Some morphological adaptations include sharp canine teeth, used for tearing apart flesh. Long hind legs, used for jumping and running at speeds of 40 miles per hour, as well as claws used for climbing trees. Behavioral adaptations include being silent, hunting and capturing prey, and burying unfinished prey for later consumption. These characteristics show that the eastern puma is not only a physically powerful animal, but also an intelligent one.