Cougar vs Mountain Lion – What’s the Difference?

Cougars, cougars and mountain lions, oh my! Depending on where you live or what you are looking at, you may hear the big cat of America called by different names.

Are there any differences between cougars and mountain lions? Where do they live? Read on to find out.

Puma vs mountain lion

Mountain lion and puma are actually two different names for the same animal. The cougar has a very large range, covering most of the Americas. Different groups of people called them by different names.

Comparison of cougars and mountain lions

The same descriptive features apply to this animal, whether you call it a mountain lion or a puma. Here are some quick facts:

Scientific name – Puma concolor
Common names are mountain lion, puma, puma, panther, painter, catamount.
Size – 2.8 to 5 feet (86 to 155 cm) long, 75 to 158 lbs (34 to 72 kg)
Habitat – mountains, forests, deserts, swamps.
Range – North and South America
Service life – up to 20 years.
Body – Feline
Temperament – Secretive, secluded.

The term “mountain lion” is most often used to refer to the North American subspecies (Puma concolor cougar), and “cougar” for the South American subspecies (Puma concolor concolor)… The cats belong to the same species, the differences between these cats are small, but include:

Key differences between cougars and mountain lions

Cougars and mountain lions are one species, Puma concolor. This large cat has the largest range of land mammals (other than humans) in the Western Hemisphere, so it’s no surprise that isolated populations have evolved into subspecies. This includes:

North American cougar
Classified as Puma concolor puma this subspecies extends from Canada to the southernmost regions of the United States, through Mexico and Central America, and possibly to South America.

Florida Panther
This subspecies was once found in the southern United States. About 50 individuals are almost completely exterminated, but now they live in southern Florida. Conservation efforts are aimed at helping this population return. Florida panthers are usually smaller than their western counterparts. Despite the fact that it is different, it is still part of Puma concolor cougar or the North American subspecies of the cougar.

South American cougar
This subspecies is classified as Puma concolor concolor. It is known that he lives in the countries of South America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela.

Let’s take a closer look at these differences.

Range

North American mountain lions are found in Canada, the American West, east to Florida, and Central America. It is believed that some population groups also reside in South America.

The South American cougar is found throughout South America, including Brazil and the Andes.

Overall size

Adults of the Florida panther and South American cougar species can weigh only half the weight of adult North American mountain lions.

Diet

Cougars and mountain lions are opportunistic predators. They will take whatever mammals and birds they can catch, but diets vary somewhat depending on the prey available in each geographic region. Mountain lions eat a lot of deer and mountain sheep. South American cougars prey on wild camels including llama, alpaca, vicuna and guanaco, as well as capybara, the largest rodent in the world.

Climate

The mountain lion usually lives in cooler mountain areas, while the cougar inhabits the rainforest. Again, the exception is the Northern Florida panther, which lives in hot, humid and swampy habitats.

Coloration

All cougars have a reddish coat with a lighter underbelly. However, depending on the climate, differences in color are visible. Mountain lions may have silvery, slightly longer fur, while cougars from warmer regions – the Florida panther and South American cougar – have a more reddish coloration.

Next up: 10 most furry animals in the world!

Cougar vs Mountain Lion – What’s the Difference? FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Is there a difference between a cougar and a mountain lion?

Yes. Cougars and mountain lions are one kind of big cats, Puma concolor. However, they belong to different subspecies.

Why are cougars called mountain lions?

In the indigenous South American language, the cat was called kuguacuarana. The settlers shortened the word to cougar and later changed the spelling to cougar.

When settlers from Spain arrived in North America, they called it a cougar riding cat means “mountain cat” and Leon, Spanish word for lion. These terms described both the appearance of the cougar – similar to the female African lion, but smaller – and its mountainous habitat. In English, these terms have been combined into “mountain lion”.

What other names are used for cougar and mountain lions?

The mountain lions were called pumas by the Incas. “Panther” is the term Europeans used to refer to big cats with hard hair. Thus, this name was given to the sand-colored cougar, as well as a related variety, the solid black jaguar morph. In some places they are also called painters or catamont.