Top cat: why the puma is a leading influencer in the animal kingdom

Researchers find the felines are connected to more than 485 species, from carrion beetles to bald eagles

From the Canadian Rockies to Patagonia, pumas have the largest terrestrial range of any mammal in the Americas. Now, a new study has reported the web of life these elusive cats support, showing how they are connected to more than 485 other species, from eagles feeding on their carrion to elk impacted by their fear effect".

Researchers reviewed 162 studies published between 1950 and 2020 looking at how pumas - also known as mountain lions or cougars - enrich ecosystems and support other species. They found the large cats contribute 1.5m kilograms of meat a day to scavenger communities across North and South America, with 281 species getting to feed on carcasses they have killed.