THE FLORIDA PANTHER Puma concolor coryi:
 A MORPHOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE
 SUBSPECIES WITH A COMPARISON TO OTHER NORTH
 AND SOUTH AMERICAN COUGARS


 Laurie Wilkins1, Julio M. Arias-Reveron2, Bradley M. Stith3,
 Melody E. Roelke4, and Robert C. Belden5





 ABSTRACT

 The endangered Florida panther, Puma concolor coryi, has been the subject of ecological and
biomedical research, but little work has been done on the morphology of the subspecies. Interest in the
morphologic characters that describe the Florida population has increased with the discovery of panthers
outside their known range of southwestern Florida, the acquisition of many more specimens than were
available to earlier researchers, and the first adult specimens and live captures from the Everglades. The
necessity to define morphologic features of Florida panthers also had law enforcement implications.
 Characters previously used to describe Puma concolor coryi were quantified and re-evaluated using
statistical methods. All historic and recent specimens from the southeastern U.S. (n=79) were examined for
pelage color, cranial profile and proportions, and other morphological traits. These specimens were
compared to a sample of North American and South American specimens. The characters measured provide
a basis on which to describe the Florida population and discriminate between it and other subspecies.
 Specimens of panthers inhabiting the Everglades region differ from the balance of the Florida
population in cranial morphology and other features, a result that is consistent with recent genetic research.
There is no evidence to support a permanent geographic or ecological separation of Florida panthers into two
populations. The best explanation for the observed morphological differences, consistent with historical
information, is that the Everglades panthers are descendants of captive-released animals and may be hybrids.
The extent to which other Florida panthers may have been affected by this possible hybridization cannot be
detected with the current analytical methods. Most specimens recovered in the last 20 years from southwest
Florida exhibit the classic P. concolor coryi morphologic features.





SFlorida Museurn of Natural History, Uiversity of Florida (UF), Gainesvile FL 32611-7800, U.SA.
SInstituto Tecnologio de Costa Rica Centro de Investiacion y Desarrolo on Agiicultra Sostenible pr el Topico Humedo (CIDASTH),
Apartado 223-4400, Ciudad Quesada San Calo, Costa Rica (fonned3y University of Florida IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center,
700 Experiment Station Road, Lake Alfred FL 33850, U.SA.
' Depatment of Wildlife Ecology and Conservtion, University of Floridra Gainesvill FL 32611, U.SA
4 Genetics Laboatory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick MD 21702, U.SA. (fonerdy with the Florida Game and Fresh Water
Connission).
SFlorida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission, 4005 South Main Street, Gainesvie FL 32601, U.SA


Wilkins, L, J. M. Arias-Reveron, B. M. Stith, M. E. Roelke, R. C. Belden. 1997. The Florida panther
Puma concolor coryi: A morphological investigation of the subspecies with a comparison to other North
and South American cougars. Bull. Florida Mus. Nat. Hist. 40(3):221-269.