ÿþThe puma is an iconic new balance 992 predator that ranges throughout the Americas, occupying diverse habitats. Previous phylogeographic analyses have revealed that it exhibits moderate levels of genetic structure across its range, with few of the classically recognized subspecies being supported as distinct demographic units. Moreover, most of the species' molecular diversity was found to be in South America.

Within the mtDNA, the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 ( ND5 ) new balance 990 grey gene has been successfully used in phylogenetic and phylogeographic studies of felids and other carnivores ( e.g. Culver et al. , 2000 ; new balance 624 Trinca et al. , 2012 ).

In a previous study focusing on pumas ( Culver et al. , 2000 ), three mtDNA segments were employed ( ND5 , 16S and ATP8 ). Of these, ND5 showed the highest polymorphic content in this species, based on new balance 410 a segment spanning 318 bp. A new primer set for this gene was designed specifically for carnivores ( Trigo et al. , 2008 ), amplifying a longer fragment ( ca. 750 bp) and exhibiting successful amplification new balance 247 mens across several families ( e.g. Felidae, Mustelidae, Mephitidae, Procyonidae [unpublished data]).

Given that the geographic sampling of South American pumas was limited in that first study, we aimed here to expand the representation of the various regions of this sub-continent, so as to allow refined inferences of population structure, maternal gene flow and demographic history.

In addition to expanding the geographic coverage of South American regions to refine inferences on patterns of matrilineal subdivision, we have performed novel analyses on puma demographic history, which revealed consistent evidence of a recent population expansion in South America, prior to re-colonization of North America.