# Why is "mountain lion" preferred over "cougar"?". **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 11, 2012, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mountain-lion-preferred-over-cougar/615447 "2012-03-11T06:35:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mountain-lion-preferred-over-cougar/615447/41 "2012-03-12T18:33:44Z")
We call them mountain lions here in South Dakota. As a matter of fact the season on them just closed not too long ago. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mountain-lion-preferred-over-cougar/615447/42 "2012-03-12T18:41:11Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > I’ll second this. In the Northwest, they’re cougars. Unless they come from Pullman, in which case it’s usually shortened to just [Cougs](http://www.wsu.edu/) (I live in Moscow, ten miles up the road from Pullman.) The problem I have with the “Go Cougs” signs everywhere is my inclination to see “Coug” rhyming with “Doug.” I agree with you- I’ve lived in the west all my life- San Diego 54 years, Idaho 7 - and they’ve always been cougars. And speaking of pumas, I’d always heard it pronounced “Pyooma” until a few years ago; now it seems everybody says “pooma” which sounds pretentious to me but is probably more correct. . ---
**Author:** ![gatorslap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gatorslap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gatorslap)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mountain-lion-preferred-over-cougar/615447/43 "2012-03-12T19:01:51Z")
> [@ChickenLegs](#): > > “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.” [bolding mine] I understand that black mountain lions probably don’t exist, but surely there are at least a few melanistic Jaguars? ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mountain-lion-preferred-over-cougar/615447/44 "2012-03-12T19:23:03Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > And speaking of pumas, I’d always heard it pronounced “Pyooma” until a few years ago; now it seems everybody says “pooma” which sounds pretentious to me but is probably more correct. > . I think “puma” is Spanish (hence, the reason these cats are called “pumas” in Central and South America), like “Cuba”, which Americans usually mispronounce as “Cyooba”, when it should be “Cooba”. Though when I had my first pair of Puma running shoes back around 1980, everybody I knew pronounced the name “Pooma”, not “Pyooma”. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mountain-lion-preferred-over-cougar/615447/45 "2012-03-12T20:02:00Z")
> [@gatorslap](#): > > [bolding mine] > > I understand that black mountain lions probably don’t exist, but surely there are at least a few melanistic Jaguars? Yep. Both leopards (Old World) and jaguars (New World) can be black. Mountain lions, as you note, have been reported black but AFAIK never confirmed. Most people don’t think of jaguars as being a US species but I guess they do get up here. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingDragonFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@FlyingDragonFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingDragonFan)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mountain-lion-preferred-over-cougar/615447/46 "2012-03-12T21:54:03Z")
In Florida I always heard them called “Florida panthers.” [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_panther) backs me up. It was my understanding from some light reading that while all the North American variations are the same species, if you use the “can interbreed” definition, there are enough taxonomic differences that an expert can tell the regional cats apart. The Wiki article above notes that some consider the Florida panther the same species as the rest of the North American cougars, but others classify it as a separate subspecies (notably conservationists). As someone who has lived in several regions of the country, “mountain lion” is the term I’ve always used in my head for the main species. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mountain-lion-preferred-over-cougar/615447/47 "2012-03-12T23:00:22Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Yep. Both leopards (Old World) and jaguars (New World) can be black. Mountain lions, as you note, have been reported black but AFAIK never confirmed. Most people don’t think of jaguars as being a US species but I guess they do get up here. Rarely. They used to occur in the extreme Southwest of the US, but only one has been observed in many decades, and that was just recently. Seems they went extinct in the US but may be coming back. Those things are very cool. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2012, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mountain-lion-preferred-over-cougar/615447/48 "2012-03-12T23:02:53Z")
> [@FlyingDragonFan](#): > > In Florida I always heard them called “Florida panthers.” [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_panther) backs me up. > > It was my understanding from some light reading that while all the North American variations are the same species, if you use the “can interbreed” definition, there are enough taxonomic differences that an expert can tell the regional cats apart. The Wiki article above notes that some consider the Florida panther the same species as the rest of the North American cougars, but others classify it as a separate subspecies (notably conservationists). > > As someone who has lived in several regions of the country, “mountain lion” is the term I’ve always used in my head for the main species. Subspecies status is something biologist can argue about endlessly. Since the Florida population is cut off from the other populations, it makes sense to call them a subspecies. And it would be odd for there to be a “mountain lion” in FL. The only mountains are in Orlando, and they’re fake. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mountain-lion-preferred-over-cougar/615447/49 "2012-03-13T02:17:01Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Yep. Both leopards (Old World) and jaguars (New World) can be black. Mountain lions, as you note, have been reported black but AFAIK never confirmed. Most people don’t think of jaguars as being a US species but I guess they do get up here. Jaguars don’t AFAIK, but the jaguarundi, a sort of Cougar Lite, being somewhat smaller (though more robustly built) does occur in Florida and until very recently in Texas (possible but not definite survival there) and comes in two phases: _colorado_ (light reddish-brown) and _moro_ (“black”, actually deep grey). I’ve formed the impression from occasional references to the jaguarundi in stuff on other Neotropical animals that the _moro_ phase is significantly more common, but cannot of course prove this. **Colibri** , any confirmation or correction? (Note: despite the name, the jaguarundi and the cougar are each other’s closest relattives, the two species in genus _Puma_, and _jaguarundi_ the name is of Brazilian origin, pronounced with an initial soft /zh/ sound, not English /dzh/ or Spanish /x/ for the J. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mountain-lion-preferred-over-cougar/615447/50 "2012-03-13T02:31:22Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > Jaguars don’t AFAIK, Come in [melanistic versions](http://www.zooborns.com/zooborns/2009/05/black-jaguar-baby.html) or [reach the United States](http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Return_of_the_Jaguar.html)? 😉 To be fair though they _barely_ cross the border and as **John Mace** noted that might be only a very recent return after a prolonged absence. ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mountain-lion-preferred-over-cougar/615447/51 "2012-03-13T02:55:33Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > … Cougar is now used a lot as a term for older women who prefer younger guys, and Puma… Puma is a younger-ish woman who prefer younger guys, and Sabre Tooth is a considerably much older woman. There are three classifications now 😛 ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mountain-lion-preferred-over-cougar/615447/52 "2012-03-13T03:08:52Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > Though when I had my first pair of Puma running shoes back around 1980, everybody I knew pronounced the name “Pooma”, not “Pyooma”. I guess I wasn’t paying attention. Hadn’t noticed until recently. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mountain-lion-preferred-over-cougar/615447/53 "2012-03-13T03:40:34Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > I’ve formed the impression from occasional references to the jaguarundi in stuff on other Neotropical animals that the _moro_ phase is significantly more common, but cannot of course prove this. **Colibri** , any confirmation or correction? Wikipedia gives the names “eyra” for red and um “jaguarundi” for gray. I feel that the colorado is the “archetypical” jaguarundi, based on most pictures I’ve seen. But based on what you say and the names, the red one may just be more photogenic. > [@](#): > > (Note: despite the name, the jaguarundi and the cougar are each other’s closest relattives, the two species in genus _Puma_, and _jaguarundi_ the name is of Brazilian origin, pronounced with an initial soft /zh/ sound, not English /dzh/ or Spanish /x/ for the J. So what you’re saying is: it’s closer pronounced like [shaguar](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Powers:_International_Man_of_Mystery)-undi ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mountain-lion-preferred-over-cougar/615447/54 "2012-03-13T03:50:24Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > Yup, I’ve lived in Washington all my life (46 years) and have always heard them called “cougars”. > > Also, [obligatory xkcd link](http://www.xkcd.com/999/). I’ve lived here (Seattle area) all my life and to me it seems like a pretty equal amount of both terms in the news. I just googled for King5 and Komo news and tried both terms and it looks like a pretty even split. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mountain-lion-preferred-over-cougar/615447/55 "2012-03-13T04:30:23Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > Jaguars don’t AFAIK, but the jaguarundi, a sort of Cougar Lite, being somewhat smaller (though more robustly built) does occur in Florida and until very recently in Texas (possible but not definite survival there) and comes in two phases: _colorado_ (light reddish-brown) and _moro_ (“black”, actually deep grey). I’ve formed the impression from occasional references to the jaguarundi in stuff on other Neotropical animals that the _moro_ phase is significantly more common, but cannot of course prove this. **Colibri** , any confirmation or correction? Actually, I hadn’t heard of the Florida population before, but apparently there are a number of sightings. That population is likely introduced. Historically it occurred in Texas and evidently Arizona as well. Jaguarundis are much much smaller than pumas, being only about the size of a housecat (4-9 kg/9-20 lb). Interestingly that recent genetic work has shown that it is very closely related to the larger cat, essentially being a pygmy puma, and has now even been placed in the same genus as _Puma yagouaroundi_. Offhand I don’t know what the ratio of dark and red phases is. I occasionally see them darting across roads here in Panama. As far as I can recall all the ones I have seen have been dark. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mountain-lion-preferred-over-cougar/615447/56 "2012-03-13T04:44:30Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Offhand I don’t know what the ratio of dark and red phases is. I occasionally see them darting across roads here in Panama. As far as I can recall all the ones I have seen have been dark. Were these sightings in the wild or more developed areas? Do you think the dark versions have a modern survival advantage that might have increased their frequency? ---
**Author:** ![gatorslap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gatorslap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gatorslap)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mountain-lion-preferred-over-cougar/615447/57 "2012-03-13T05:28:48Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Come in [melanistic versions](http://www.zooborns.com/zooborns/2009/05/black-jaguar-baby.html) or [reach the United States](http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Return_of_the_Jaguar.html)? 😉 > > To be fair though they _barely_ cross the border and as **John Mace** noted that might be only a very recent return after a prolonged absence. To be extra fair, the original quotation was “there are no black panthers in North America”. If they’re just barely crossing into the US, there’s got to be significant numbers in Mexico. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2012, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mountain-lion-preferred-over-cougar/615447/58 "2012-03-13T16:55:38Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Were these sightings in the wild or more developed areas? Do you think the dark versions have a modern survival advantage that might have increased their frequency? Mostly in forest in a national park that’s about a half-hour drive from Panama city. It’s possible that dark and red morphs could have different values for camouflage in forest vs second growth where light levels are higher, but I doubt that that’s the reason. I haven’t heard that the red phase is more frequent in different habits, for example. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2012, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mountain-lion-preferred-over-cougar/615447/59 "2012-03-14T00:55:06Z")
They’re usually called cougars around these parts. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-mountain-lion-preferred-over-cougar/615447.md?page=2)