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Cougar |
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<div style="float:left;margin-right:0.9em">[[Image:Histology bse.jpg|100px]]</div> |
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
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A '''[[prion]]''' ({{pron-en|ˈpriːɒn|Pronunciation prion.ogg}}; derived from the first two syllables of the words '''''pr'''oteinaceous'' and '''''in'''fectious,'' with '''-on''' by analogy with viri'''on''') is a poorly-understood hypothetical [[infectious disease|infectious agent]] that, according to one hypothesis, is composed entirely of [[protein]]s. Prions are thought to cause a number of diseases in a variety of [[mammal]]s, including [[bovine spongiform encephalopathy]] (BSE, also known as "mad cow disease") in [[cattle]] and [[Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease]] (CJD) in humans. All hypothesized prion diseases affect the structure of the [[brain]] or other [[neurons|neural]] tissue, and all are currently untreatable and are always fatal. In general usage, '''prion''' can refer to both the [[Koch's postulates|theoretical unit of infection]] or the specific protein (e.g. PrP) that is thought to be the infective agent, whether or not it is in an infective state. |
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(Redirected from Puma concolor) |
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This article is about the large cat species. For other uses, see Cougar (disambiguation). |
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Cougar[1] |
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Prions are hypothesized to infect and propagate by [[Protein folding|refolding]] abnormally into a [[Protein structure|structure]] which is able to convert normal [[molecule]]s of the protein into the abnormally structured form. All known prions induce the formation of an [[amyloid]] fold, in which the protein polymerises into an aggregate consisting of tightly packed [[beta sheet]]s. This altered structure is extremely stable and accumulates in infected tissue, causing cell death and tissue damage. This stability means that prions are resistant to [[denaturation (biochemistry)|denaturation]] by chemical and physical agents, making disposal and containment of these particles difficult. |
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Fossil range: Middle Pleistocene to Recent |
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Conservation status |
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Proteins showing prion-type behavior are also found in some [[fungus|fungi]] and this has been quite important in helping to understand mammalian prions. However, [[fungal prions]] do not appear to cause disease in their hosts and may even confer an [[evolution]]ary advantage through a form of protein-based [[Heredity|inheritance]]. |
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Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[2] |
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Scientific classification |
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{| width="100%" border="0" style="padding: 0; margin:0; background:transparent;" |
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Kingdom: Animalia |
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|<div class="noprint" style="text-align:left;">'''[[Portal:Biology/Previous articles|...Archive]]'''</div>||<div class="noprint" style="text-align:center;">'''[[WP:FA#Biology|Featured biology articles]]'''</div>||<div class="noprint" style="text-align:right;">'''[[Prion|Read more...]]'''</div> |
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Phylum: Chordata |
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Class: Mammalia |
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Order: Carnivora |
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Family: Felidae |
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Genus: Puma |
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Species: P. concolor |
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Binomial name |
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Puma concolor |
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(Linnaeus, 1771) |
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Cougar range |
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[[id:Portal:Biologi/Artikel Pilihan]] |
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The cougar (Puma concolor), also known as puma, mountain lion, mountain cat, catamount or panther, depending on the region, is a mammal of the family Felidae, native to the Americas. This large, solitary cat has the greatest range of any large wild terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere,[3] extending from Yukon in Canada to the southern Andes of South America. An adaptable, generalist species, the cougar is found in every major American habitat type. It is the second heaviest cat in the American continents after the jaguar. Although large, the cougar is most closely related to smaller felines. |
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A capable stalk-and-ambush predator, the cougar pursues a wide variety of prey. Primary food sources include ungulates such as deer, elk, moose, and bighorn sheep, as well as domestic cattle, horses and sheep, particularly in the northern part of its range. It will also hunt species as small as insects and rodents. This cat prefers habitats with dense underbrush and rocky areas for stalking, but it can also live in open areas. The cougar is territorial and persists at low population densities. Individual territory sizes depend on terrain, vegetation, and abundance of prey. While it is a large predator, it is not always the dominant species in its range, as when it competes for prey with other predators such as the jaguar, grey wolf, American Black Bear, and the grizzly bear. It is a reclusive cat and usually avoids people. Attacks on humans remain rare, despite a recent increase in frequency.[4] |
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Due to excessive hunting following the European colonization of the Americas and the continuing human development of cougar habitat, populations have dropped in most parts of its historical range. In particular, the cougar was extirpated in eastern North America, except for an isolated sub-population in Florida; there are many sightings that claim the animal is recolonizing parts of its former eastern territory, such as Maine and northern Michigan [5][6] where there have been recent sightings. In North America, the cougar is native to Western Canada (primarily British Columbia and Yukon), Washington, Oregon and Northern California. Oregon alone is home to more than 5,000 cougars, with the highest densities in the Blue Mountains in the northeastern part of the state and in the southwestern Cascade Mountains. Their primary food source here is deer, but they will also consume elk, raccoons, bighorn sheep, and other mammals and birds. |
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Cougars are territorial animals and maintain home ranges of up to 100 miles. Most active at dawn and dusk, they are lone hunters. They are generally solitary animals, except for mothers who remain with kittens for about two years. While actual cougar sightings have increased, coyotes, bobcats, and dogs are often mistaken for cougars. A cougar can be identified by its large size, cat-like appearance, consistent tan or tawny body color, and long tail. An adult cougar's tail is nearly three feet long and can be a third to a half of its total length. Cougar tracks can be differentiated from dog tracks by paying attention to detail. The cougar has recently made a comeback in the state of Wyoming, where it presently has the largest population in North America[citation needed]. |
Revision as of 04:43, 14 June 2010
Cougar From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Puma concolor)
This article is about the large cat species. For other uses, see Cougar (disambiguation).
Cougar[1] Fossil range: Middle Pleistocene to Recent
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[2] Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Genus: Puma Species: P. concolor Binomial name Puma concolor (Linnaeus, 1771)
Cougar range The cougar (Puma concolor), also known as puma, mountain lion, mountain cat, catamount or panther, depending on the region, is a mammal of the family Felidae, native to the Americas. This large, solitary cat has the greatest range of any large wild terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere,[3] extending from Yukon in Canada to the southern Andes of South America. An adaptable, generalist species, the cougar is found in every major American habitat type. It is the second heaviest cat in the American continents after the jaguar. Although large, the cougar is most closely related to smaller felines. A capable stalk-and-ambush predator, the cougar pursues a wide variety of prey. Primary food sources include ungulates such as deer, elk, moose, and bighorn sheep, as well as domestic cattle, horses and sheep, particularly in the northern part of its range. It will also hunt species as small as insects and rodents. This cat prefers habitats with dense underbrush and rocky areas for stalking, but it can also live in open areas. The cougar is territorial and persists at low population densities. Individual territory sizes depend on terrain, vegetation, and abundance of prey. While it is a large predator, it is not always the dominant species in its range, as when it competes for prey with other predators such as the jaguar, grey wolf, American Black Bear, and the grizzly bear. It is a reclusive cat and usually avoids people. Attacks on humans remain rare, despite a recent increase in frequency.[4] Due to excessive hunting following the European colonization of the Americas and the continuing human development of cougar habitat, populations have dropped in most parts of its historical range. In particular, the cougar was extirpated in eastern North America, except for an isolated sub-population in Florida; there are many sightings that claim the animal is recolonizing parts of its former eastern territory, such as Maine and northern Michigan [5][6] where there have been recent sightings. In North America, the cougar is native to Western Canada (primarily British Columbia and Yukon), Washington, Oregon and Northern California. Oregon alone is home to more than 5,000 cougars, with the highest densities in the Blue Mountains in the northeastern part of the state and in the southwestern Cascade Mountains. Their primary food source here is deer, but they will also consume elk, raccoons, bighorn sheep, and other mammals and birds. Cougars are territorial animals and maintain home ranges of up to 100 miles. Most active at dawn and dusk, they are lone hunters. They are generally solitary animals, except for mothers who remain with kittens for about two years. While actual cougar sightings have increased, coyotes, bobcats, and dogs are often mistaken for cougars. A cougar can be identified by its large size, cat-like appearance, consistent tan or tawny body color, and long tail. An adult cougar's tail is nearly three feet long and can be a third to a half of its total length. Cougar tracks can be differentiated from dog tracks by paying attention to detail. The cougar has recently made a comeback in the state of Wyoming, where it presently has the largest population in North America[citation needed].