# You say Puma, He says Cougar, I say Mountain Lion...... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 14, 2003, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-say-puma-he-says-cougar-i-say-mountain-lion/207308 "2003-10-14T02:37:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-say-puma-he-says-cougar-i-say-mountain-lion/207308/1 "2003-10-14T02:37:06Z")
This is a two parter; 1.How many animals have more than one name? (Common name) 2.Why are there so many different names, and can we work towards limiting the variants? ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-say-puma-he-says-cougar-i-say-mountain-lion/207308/2 "2003-10-14T04:48:35Z")
1: Probably all of them. 2: Because people called them different things in different locations, and why would anyone who is not a fascist want to “limit the variants”? Biologists have the binomial system, and if one wants precision, then that works just fine. ---
**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:** [October 14, 2003, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-say-puma-he-says-cougar-i-say-mountain-lion/207308/3 "2003-10-14T04:51:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Meeko \* > This is a two parter; > > 1.How many animals have more than one name? (Common name) Impossible to answer, but in general “many” probably covers it. Many languages have different common names for the same animal. Then there are single names that are applied to multiple species of animal, like “Sheapshead”, which in different parts of the North America can refer to any of a few different species of ( unrelated ) fish. > [@](#): > > 2.Why are there so many different names, and can we work towards limiting the variants? There are so many different names because different languages, dialects, and regions refer to the same animal by different names ( or different animals by the same name ). Simple as that. As far as regulating them, there are a very few bodies that do so for specific groups. For example the official English names for birds is established by a particular board. But even that doesn’t help much when you get to different languages. The answer since Linnaeus’ time has been to use a latin binomial, the “scientific name”, as a universal cross-cultural identifier that is the same in every language. So in different parts of NA Archosargus probatocephalus and Pimelometopon pulcher may both be referred to, confusingly, as “Sheepshead”. But when you see their scientific name it is clear what organism you are talking about, as each organism has an absolutely unique latin ( or latinized greek ) name. As to who decides on those, they are named by a describing scientist and become official when formally published. Their are also separate Zoological and Botanical Board’s of Nomenclature with big thick rule-books ( slightly differences between the two ) which sit in judgement when there is conflict over a name. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2003, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-say-puma-he-says-cougar-i-say-mountain-lion/207308/4 "2003-10-14T18:50:46Z")
No, no, no…not **Puma, Cougar, Mountain Lion**! It’s **Cheetah, Puma, Jaguar, Panther,** and _then_ **Cougar**. dunno about **Mountain Lion** , that’s probably still a ways off. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-say-puma-he-says-cougar-i-say-mountain-lion/207308/5 "2003-10-15T05:29:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AHunter3 \* > No, no, no…not **Puma, Cougar, Mountain Lion**! > > It’s **Cheetah, Puma, Jaguar, Panther,** and _then_ **Cougar**. > > dunno about **Mountain Lion** , that’s probably still a ways off. What about John Cougar Mellencamp? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Nekosoft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c2a13f/32.png) [@Nekosoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nekosoft)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-say-puma-he-says-cougar-i-say-mountain-lion/207308/6 "2003-10-15T06:24:26Z")
But no Cougar until[October 24th?](http://www.apple.com) ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-say-puma-he-says-cougar-i-say-mountain-lion/207308/7 "2003-10-15T16:26:25Z")
I think you mean “No Panther until October 24th”. Cougar is rumored to be 10.4 and for presumably obvious reasons no date has been set yet. (Mmm, true 64-bit OS!) ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-say-puma-he-says-cougar-i-say-mountain-lion/207308/8 "2003-10-15T16:40:05Z")
To get the thread back on topic: crudites, canapes, h’or dourves anyone? (or, as my Dad would deliberately say, crew dights, cuh napes, horse doovers?) ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-say-puma-he-says-cougar-i-say-mountain-lion/207308/9 "2003-10-15T16:45:04Z")
Oh cancel that, I forgot that you wanted animals. Hmmph. Well, there’s buffalo and bison, but I think buffalo is considered informal and technically wrong or something. ---
**Author:** ![Shepherdless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85f322/32.png) [@Shepherdless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shepherdless)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-say-puma-he-says-cougar-i-say-mountain-lion/207308/10 "2003-10-15T19:13:54Z")
Bigfoot, Sasquatch, Yeti, Abominable Snowman, Yowie, Almas, Yeren… All named according to regions. ---
**Author:** ![Gravity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gravity/32/14322_2.png) [@Gravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gravity)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2003, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-say-puma-he-says-cougar-i-say-mountain-lion/207308/11 "2003-10-15T19:22:35Z")
Vermont’s native mountain lions are called catamounts, to add another to your list. There’s groundhogs and gophers. Also, there are lots and lots of names for the (_shudder_) daddylonglegs insect. It’s also called a Ginnyspider, Jenny spider, and a Harvestman. ---
**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:** [October 16, 2003, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-say-puma-he-says-cougar-i-say-mountain-lion/207308/12 "2003-10-16T17:43:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tamerlane \* > **As far as regulating them, there are a very few bodies that do so for specific groups. For example the official English names for birds is established by a particular board.** Actually, several boards with different jurisdictions, including the American Ornithologists’ Union for North America and the British Ornithologists’ Union for Europe (actually, I’m not sure how wide a jurisdiction they claim), among others. So although birds are more standardized than any other group, there is no single body that has “official” authority world-wide, and the names of many species vary regionally. ---
**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:** [October 16, 2003, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-say-puma-he-says-cougar-i-say-mountain-lion/207308/13 "2003-10-16T18:52:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Colibri \* > Actually, several boards with different jurisdictions, including the American Ornithologists’ Union for North America and the British Ornithologists’ Union for Europe (actually, I’m not sure how wide a jurisdiction they claim), among others. So although birds are more standardized than any other group, there is no single body that has “official” authority world-wide, and the names of many species vary regionally. Speaking of which, why the heck is Colibri coruscans the “Sparkling Violet-Ear”, instead of the more descriptive and measured “Sparkling Violet-Eared Hummingbird”, hmmm? Answer me THAT hummingbird-dude! Oh, granted it’s not quite as froo-froo as “Rainbow Starfrontlet” or “Gorgeted Sunangel”, or even “Emerald Puffleg”. But really now, you hardly want to walk into a Panama bar chirping, “I’m a Sparkling Violet-Ear!!!” You’d be lucky to get out of there in one piece. On the other hand if you strolled in and announced gruffly and authoritatively, “I’m a Sparkling Violet-Eared Hummingbird”, well, shoot - THEN you’re going to get some respect. Right? 😉 - Tamerlane ---
**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:** [October 16, 2003, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-say-puma-he-says-cougar-i-say-mountain-lion/207308/14 "2003-10-16T19:08:52Z")
_Ahem_ I meant “Sapphire-Vented Puffleg”, of course. Just got it tangled with the “Coppery-Headed Emerald” during post composition. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-say-puma-he-says-cougar-i-say-mountain-lion/207308/15 "2003-10-16T19:14:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gravity \* > \*\*Vermont’s native mountain lions are called catamounts, to add another to your list. \ > > \*\* And if I’m not mistaken, they are called “painter” in the Appalachians. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2003, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-say-puma-he-says-cougar-i-say-mountain-lion/207308/16 "2003-10-16T19:27:53Z")
[Here](http://www.bookofratings.com/catnames.html) is a review - and evaluation - of all known _Felis Concolor_ names. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2003, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-say-puma-he-says-cougar-i-say-mountain-lion/207308/17 "2003-10-16T19:35:33Z")
Another example: pill bug, sow bug, potato bug, etc. This is an especially vexing example, because there are half a dozen names that people use indiscriminately to refer to three or four distinct arthropods that have general characteristics in common. (And for what it’s worth, “bug” has a specific entomological connotation as well, which most laypeople don’t concern themselves with.) ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2003, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-say-puma-he-says-cougar-i-say-mountain-lion/207308/18 "2003-10-16T20:20:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gravity \* > \*\* > There’s groundhogs and gophers. > \*\* Gophers are about 1/10 the size of the groundhog that I see each Feb. 2. I think it’s groundhogs and marmots that are the same beastie. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-say-puma-he-says-cougar-i-say-mountain-lion/207308/19 "2003-10-16T21:09:49Z")
[http://www.eagle.ca/ipg/gopher.html](http://www.eagle.ca/ipg/gopher.html) Gophers, Groundhogs, and Marmots are all _Marmota monax_ according to the link above. [http://www.wonderquest.com/day-night-orange-sky-groundhog-gopher.htm](http://www.wonderquest.com/day-night-orange-sky-groundhog-gopher.htm) This site says that Gophers are _any of 38 species from the family Geomyidae, order Rodentia_. [http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/ipm/msg0623343225597.html](http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/ipm/msg0623343225597.html) This backs up the second cite. I suspect the second site is more accurate, but with common names it’s hard to say anything definative, since someplace out there someone may be calling a marmot by the name gopher. ---
**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:** [October 16, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-say-puma-he-says-cougar-i-say-mountain-lion/207308/20 "2003-10-16T21:17:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tamerlane \* > \*\*Speaking of which, why the heck is Colibri coruscans the “Sparkling Violet-Ear”, instead of the more descriptive and measured “Sparkling Violet-Eared Hummingbird”, hmmm? Answer me THAT hummingbird-dude! > Oh, granted it’s not quite as froo-froo as “Rainbow Starfrontlet” or “Gorgeted Sunangel”, or even “Emerald Puffleg”. But really now, you hardly want to walk into a Panama bar chirping, “I’m a Sparkling Violet-Ear!!!” You’d be lucky to get out of there in one piece. On the other hand if you strolled in and announced gruffly and authoritatively, “I’m a Sparkling Violet-Eared Hummingbird”, well, shoot - THEN you’re going to get some respect. > > Right? 😉 > > - Tamerlane \*\* Well, my handle is from the common name for hummingbirds in Spanish - taken from Taino - not specifically for the genus of the [Violet-ears](http://www.hbw.com/hbw/volume5/plate504.html.). But yeah, hummingbirds do have particularly twee names: White-bearded Hermit White-whiskered Hermit Green Mango Adorable Coquette Festive Coquette Violet-crowned Woodnymph Snowcap White-vented Plumeleteer Blossomcrown Gould’s Jewelfront Empress Brilliant Fiery Topaz Shining Sunbeam Rainbow Starfrontlet Velvet-purple Coronet Glistening Sunangel Glowing Puffleg Booted Raquet-tail Red-tailed Comet Bearded Helmetcrest Violet-tailed Sylph Bearded Mountaineer Purple-crowned Fairy Horned Sungem Amythyst Woodstar Of course, ounce for ounce hummingbirds are one of the most pugnacious creatures on the planet, which is why the Aztecs called their god of war _Huitzilopochtli_, the southern hummingbird. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-say-puma-he-says-cougar-i-say-mountain-lion/207308.md?page=2)