Puma vs cougar vs mountain lion

National Parks. Did you know that mountain lions have the largest geographic range of any non-human land mammal in the Western Hemisphere?

What's in a name? Mountain lion, puma, cougar, panther—this cat is known by more names than just about any other mammal! Mostly because it has such a large range, and people from different countries have called it different things. Early Spanish explorers of North and South America called it leon lion and gato monte cat of the mountain , from which we get the name "mountain lion. All of these names are considered correct, but in Southern California they are commonly called mountain lions. You may have heard of the Florida panther.

Puma vs cougar vs mountain lion

Their range extends further south through Mexico , where they are found in nearly every state, to the Amazon Rainforest and the southern Andes Mountains in Patagonia. The puma as it is called in Spanish inhabits every mainland country in Central and South America , making it the most widely distributed large, wild, terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere , and one of the most widespread on planet Earth. It is an adaptable, generalist species , occurring in most American habitat types. It prefers habitats with dense underbrush and rocky areas for stalking but also lives in open areas. The cougar is largely solitary by nature and considered both nocturnal and crepuscular , although daytime sightings do occur. It is an ambush predator that pursues a wide variety of prey. Primary food sources are ungulates , particularly deer , but it also hunts smaller prey, such as rodents. Cougars are territorial and live at low population densities. Individual home ranges depend on terrain, vegetation and abundance of prey. While large, it is not always the apex predator in its range, yielding prey it has killed to American black bears , grizzly bears , and wolf packs. It is reclusive and mostly avoids people. Fatal attacks on humans are rare but increased in North America as more people entered cougar habitat and built farms. Intensive hunting following European colonization of the Americas and ongoing human development into cougar habitat has caused populations to decline in most parts of its historical range. In particular, the eastern cougar population is considered to be mostly locally extinct in eastern North America since the early 20th century , with the exception of the isolated Florida panther subpopulation. Marcgrave's rendering was reproduced in by his associate Willem Piso.

A fun fact about these large cats is that they cannot roar like lions. Where do cougars most commonly live? Archived from the original on February 20,

Did you know the cougar holds one of the Guinness World Records for having the most names? Often called "the cat of many names," it's referred to as the puma, panther, mountain cat, mountain lion, mountain screamer, painter and catamount, just to name a few. In fact, the cougar has more monikers than almost any other living mammal, around 40 in English alone. The reason: The name used depends on location, and there are a lot of those to be had. Due to the cougar's knack for adaptability — think a fast and powerful muscular body, sharp eyesight and keen hearing, as well as the ability to swim, climb trees and jump long distances — this cat can be seen thriving in many varied habitats, from the Southern Andes in South America to the Yukon in Canada, and everywhere from forests to open areas with sparse vegetation.

What's in a name? Mountain lion, puma, cougar, panther—this cat is known by more names than just about any other mammal! Mostly because it has such a large range, and people from different countries have called it different things. Early Spanish explorers of North and South America called it leon lion and gato monte cat of the mountain , from which we get the name "mountain lion. All of these names are considered correct, but in Southern California they are commonly called mountain lions. You may have heard of the Florida panther. It is endangered, with only about 50 cats left, and conservation efforts are underway to try to save it.

Puma vs cougar vs mountain lion

National Parks. Did you know that mountain lions have the largest geographic range of any non-human land mammal in the Western Hemisphere? The reason is that people from various countries, from Chile to Canada, have different names for it.

Airtel 4g plans 84 days

Read View source View history. Nearby Events. Short-eared dog A. Megan is a naturalist, writer and content creator. Kinkajou P. These natural engineers deserve our respect and protection from threats across the Americas. New York: Chanticleer Press. Megan Shersby. In fact, it has so many names in English alone around 40 that it holds the Guinness Book of World Records distinction. Genetta Genets Abyssinian genet G.

Cougar vs Mountain Lion, are they different? Whats the deal? So, lets sort this out!

Join Ranger Rick Inspire a lifelong connection with wildlife and wild places through our children's publications, products, and activities Learn More. Gestation is 82— days long. African clawless otter A. Cougar: ecology and conservation. Sichuan weasel M. But though the cats can provide an extra source of revenue for local communities, this only works if both the animals and tourists stay safe. Environmental Stewardship Division. What is your per-person budget? Bibcode : SNFE The Inca city of Cusco is reported to have been designed in the shape of a cougar, and the animal also gave its name to both Inca regions and people. As of [update] , the Cat Classification Taskforce of the Cat Specialist Group recognizes only two subspecies as valid : [20].