WILKINS ET AL: FLORIDA PANTHER MORPHOLOGY


Table 7. Reclassification ofspecimens ofadult male and female Florida cougars according to discriminant
function analyses. Specimens of uncertain identity were tested against a calibrated data set ofPuma c. coryi
(n=45), P. c. azteca (n=29), and P. c. stanleyana (n=21), separate analysis by sex, equal prior probability.

Individual Reclassified Posterior
Reclassified Identity To Class Probability

 MALES

LSU 11363 ARK/LA stanleyana 0.40
LSU 17032 ARK/LA stanleyana 0.97
MSH 1379 ARK/LA stanleyana 0.88
UF 12462 Captive coryi 1.00
ANS 2241 So.Carolina azteca 0.99
UF 24042 Volisia Co. coryi 0.99

 FEMALES

EVER 7040 ENP specimen stanleyana 0.41
UF 19077 Canal Point azteca 0.78
UF 23985 Corbett coryi 0.77
UF 24557 Everglades(#27) azteca 0.97
UF 24563 Everglades (#15) azteca 0.98




might have emerged. Within the limited scope of the study, however, some
conclusions might be drawn.
 The geographic races of the cougar, like those of other animals are based on a
combination of characters, including size, color, and cranial and dental measures
that prevail in areas over which environmental conditions tend to be uniform
(Goldman 1946). Puma concolor coryi, best known from the Florida population,
appears to be well defined based on pelage markings, color, and the cranial profile.
None of these characters is unique in itself; however, in combination, they provide
a basis to describe the Florida population, whether or not one accepts the concept
of a subspecies. Goldman (1946) placed heavy emphasis on the inflated nasals as a
distinguishing feature of the Florida panther. Quantitative measures of this trait
reinforced Goldman's view of its importance in identifying individuals belonging
to the Florida population. Of North American subspecies examined, the Florida
population most closely resembles cats from the northwest coast in details of color
and cranial profile. This may reflect a similarity of some environmental parameter
that prevails over the two geographic areas (for example, high humidity levels) and
deserves further investigation.
 Two Piper cats from the Everglades Wonder Gardens exhibit significant
differences when compared to both the historic and recent specimens of P. c. coryi