How is a cougar different from a mountain lion?

What's in a name? Mountain lion, puma, cougar, panther—this cat is known by more names than just about any other mammal! But no matter what you call it, it's still the same cat, Puma concolor, the largest of the small cat species. So how did it get so many names? read more

Cougar and mountain lion are two names for only one species, but referred differently according to the people of North and South America. In addition, the name cougar is being used in both these continents, but mountain lion is more common in North America. read more

There is no difference between the cougar and the mountain lion as both are the same cat called the Puma concolor. The Puma concolor has been called many names in addition to mountain lion and cougar, such as panther and puma. read more

As a result, it is known by countless names depending on where a specific individual lives. Writer Claude Barnes created a list of 40 different names in just English. This includes cougar, mountain lion, puma, and catamount, the most common names. read more