R.G. Finney (Wyoming, B. 1941) "North American Cougar Mother with Cubs" Signed lower left. Original Acrylic painting on Wood. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood Porcelain Plate for The Endangered Kingdom Collection Alpine Antics. The cougar or puma ranges across the North American and South American continents. Second in size only to the jaguar among cats of the New World, the cougar inhabits a surprising variety of environments including deserts, jungles and mountains. In the latter habitat it is sometimes referred to as a mountain lion. Unlike true lions, cougars have no mane. These creatures also vary in color, ranging from a pale tan to a dark reddish brown, and may weigh from a minimum of 35 pounds to upwards of more than 200 pounds. Females are generally smaller. A large male may reach nine feet in length, one-third of which is tail! Like most felines, cougars are nocturnal, although some are diurnal as well, providing the areas they inhabit are undisturbed by man. Cougars have been poached in many areas because they are erroneously thought to endanger ranchers' livestock and deer populations. Although cougars subsist mainly on deer, they perform an invaluable role in weeding out the weak and injured animals, thus invigorating the remaining stock. Feasting after a successful hunt, cougars often go without eating for several days, until they can make another kill. Over 15 subspecies of cougar are known to exist and all are threatened or endangered. The numbers of two subspecies, the Eastern cougar Felis concolor cougar and the Florida cougar Felis concolor coryi, are especially dwindling. Overall Size: 18 x 18 in. Unframed. (B14684) See More