The Cougar is a large felid native to the Americas. Also called the mountain lion, puma, panther, or catamount, it’s more closely related to smaller felines, including the domestic cat, than to any species of subfamily Pantherinae. It has the largest range of any wild land animal in the Americas; from northern Yukon in Canada to the southern Andes.

An ambush predator that favours ungulate prey like deer, it lives in forest areas, preferring to stalk in dense underbrush, but able to live in lowland and mountainous deserts. Precipitous canyons, escarpments, rim rocks, and dense brush are favourite habitats, suiting the Cougars hunting style.

The fourth largest cat, these tawny-coloured animals stand 60-90cm at the shoulders, and around 2.4m in length from nose to tail. Males average 62kg in weight, although can reach 100kg. Able to leap 5.5m high in a single bound, they are expert climbers, can swim, and run at up to 80km/h (50mph).

DESIGNER: William Woodruff

REVERSE: Pictures a Cougar with its front paws on a tree branch, baring its teeth, with mountains in the background. Inscribed along the top is “CANADA”, along the bottom “FINE SILVER 1 OZ. ARGENT PUR.”, and in the artwork the coin purity, “9999.”