As far as I can tell “cougar” is a well understood and unambiguous common term for Puma concolor, but the media and nature officials seem to prefer “mountain lion”. Why? Not only is “mountain lion” longer, it’s doubly misleading. It there some other animal called a “cougar” that would be confused with Puma concolor?
It’s scarier. Scarier sells more papers.
There’s also puma, catamount, and a couple other terms used for the beastie. But Cougar is now used a lot as a term for older women who prefer younger guys, and Puma is a trademarked name for running shoes.
So, cougar & puma could be misunderstood in a headline.
A lot of people get savaged by running shoes.
Where do you live? I think your local media might be reflecting the local term.
Is “panther” a different animal? I’d always thought that was yet another synonym for “mountain lion,” at least the Texas variety.
I believe a panther is a melanistic leopard.
There is no such thing as a panther. The genus panthera refers to lions, tigers, leopards and jaguars; colloquially, any black-coated individuals of the above species, as well as black mountain lions, are referred to as “panthers”.
That’s a classic example of reasoning from a Converse! 
Hopefully **EdwardLost **won’t mind if I add a tangential question about large cats. (?)
We occasionally see cougars on our hunting lease, usually after sitting quietly on a stand for a few hours. I and several other hunters have seen a black one slinking past on occasion. The sightings are rare (maybe once per year) but enough have seen it that we’re sure it’s there, and not a trick of the light nor overactive imaginations.
Where would a black one come from? All the others are the normal brown color. Is it possible that for some genetic reason, a black one just happened?
For those reading my location, the lease is in another state with a confirmed cougar population.
I agree that it may be regional. When one was found in Chicago a few years back, the local press called it a cougar.
America’s big cat is the Puma concolor. All the other names are folklore, changing with time & region.
OK, the jaguars are bigger. But less widely found… Meow!
The panther of ancient bestiaries is quite a different creature.
It’s fun to play with words!
If called by a panther,
Don’t anther.
– Ogden Nash
“Its fur is a light, tawny brown color which can appear gray or almost black, depending on light conditions.Contrary to popular belief, there are no black panthers in North America; no one has ever captured or killed a black Mountain Lion.”
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/mlion/
If you’re seeing a large black cat, it is almost surely not a mountain lion.
Wikipedia prefers cougar. Cougar - Wikipedia
It seems to me that puma is most correct, since that’s part of its taxonomic classification.
They are typically called Mountain Lions in California. “Panther” is a more common term in Florida, but it doesn’t need to be black. “Cougar” may be the closest to the scientific name, but I rarely hear anyone use that term in CA. It may be more common in the Mountain West (like CO or WY), but I’m not really sure. And in South America, they are usually called “Pumas”.
Still, they area all the same species. There is no such thing as a “correct” term. It’s whatever people call them locally.
Folklore? How can a single name be folklore?
Don’t make me break out my pistil…
Some sport items manufacturers prefer Puma
That would be a pithtal.
Anybody else remember Tom Smothers “Sure looks like a puma!”
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