{"id":14765,"date":"2022-03-16T15:01:47","date_gmt":"2022-03-16T14:01:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/?p=3155"},"modified":"2022-03-16T15:20:28","modified_gmt":"2022-03-16T14:20:28","slug":"pumas-and-cougars-guide-whats-the-difference-between-them-where-do-they-live-and-what-do-they-eat","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/pumas-and-cougars-guide-whats-the-difference-between-them-where-do-they-live-and-what-do-they-eat\/","title":{"rendered":"Pumas and cougars guide: what\u2019s the difference between them, where do they live and what do they eat?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Megan Shersby\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 16 March 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Pumas starred in the first episode of BBC One\u2019s Dynasties II<\/a> series, but what exactly are they? What\u2019s the difference between a puma, a cougar and a mountain lion? Learn more about these powerful predators, including how to identify them, their different names and where they live.<\/p>\n

What is a puma?<\/h2>\n

The puma is a large cat belonging to the felidae family. It is similar in size to the jaguar, and is found is a wide variety of habitats throughout the Americas. It is also known as the cougar, mountain lion and a number of other names.<\/p>\n

Are pumas, cougars and mountain lions all the same species?<\/h2>\n

The six (or, by some counts, seven) subspecies are known by a plethora of names throughout their range, which spans 22 countries from southern Alaska to the tip of Tierra del Fuego. \u2018Puma\u2019 is generally used to refer to Latin American cats, while \u2018cougar\u2019 is a North American term, but the distinction is unclear. So you might find yourself talking about mountain lions, cougars, pumas, Florida panthers, catamounts or even l\u00e9ons \u2013 but remember: they\u2019re all the same cool cat.<\/p>\n

To further complicate matters, the scientific name Puma concolor<\/em> is also a little confusing as it isn\u2019t quite accurate. Concolor means \u2018of one colour\u2019, but that\u2019s not strictly true: young pumas are spotted, and adults are a mix of shades, with the overall hue ranging from grey to rust.<\/p>\n

Where do pumas live?<\/h2>\n

Found from Yukon, in northern Canada, right down to the southern Andes, the puma (Puma concolor) <\/em>has the largest range of any native land mammal in the western hemisphere. An incredibly adaptable animal, it is found in almost every type of habitat. That includes forests, high mountains, deserts \u2013 and even urban jungles.<\/p>\n

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