Males are larger than females, otherwise appearance is similar. Adult males are 7-9 feet long, including the tail. Males weigh approximately 140-200 pounds, females 85-125 pounds. Cougars are light brown, tawny, and in a few cases, black; spots on side of muzzle; dark hair on tail tip; lighter on underparts. They have acute vision and hearing. Ears are round and erect and move to focus on sounds.
They walk around on four legs. The back legs are slightly longer than the front legs. The speed of the cougar is about 30-50 mph. The life span is 10-20 years. The cougars like to live alone.
The muscles in the back legs are suited for rapid acceleration and pouncing and teeth designed for seizing, slashing and tearing. It cannot roar because of the structure of its larynx, or voice box. Instead, it produces a high-pitched scream.