what is the difference between a panther and a cougar?

Answer 1

cougar is another name for the puma or mountain lion, found throughout the New World (North and South America). Panther, originally, applied to the African and Asian leopard. Later it was mostly used for the melanistic form of the leopard ('black panther'). The settlers in America attached 'panther' to the cougar and it is still commonly called that, especially for the 'Florida panther' (ie, the subspecies of cougar found in Florida)

Answer 2

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A puma and a cougar are the same animal, also known as the mountain lion, catamount, and several other names. Scientifically, its name is Puma concolor. The subspecies found in Florida is often referred to as the Florida panther, though it is just as accurate to call it puma, cougar, etc. Panther on its own, or preceded by the word black, refers to a melanistic leopard - that is, a leopard with an excess of the dark pigment melanin, resulting in an almost totally black coat (the markings still show up against the background in certain lights). Some people also refer to melanistic jaguars as panthers, though this is not technically correct. The term 'big cats' can be used in two ways. It can refer to any large member of the family Felidae, but in zoological circles it is often used to refer only to the 'roaring cats' of the genus Panthera - that is, the tiger, lion, jaguar and leopard. Other large members of the family include the snow leopard, clouded leopard, cheetah and lynx. The remaining cats range in size from smaller than a domestic cat, as in the black-footed cat and rusty spotted cat, to about twice or three times the size, as in the ocelot and caracal.

Answer 3

Panther Vs Mountain Lion

Answer 4

A panther is a leopard and is found in Africa and Asia. A cougar is an American big cat as is the jaguar. Leopards, jaguars and cougars can all have a dark phase. The American dark phased cougars and jaguars are often called panthers. Some people restrict the word panther to black phase leopards but there is no need to do so.

Answer 5

Amongst the animals you mentioned, the puma and cougar (Puma concolour) are the same animal; the cougar is known for having many different names; other names it's known by are mountain lion, pi-twal, and catamount. As for what a panther is; a panther is a leopard (Panthera pardus), specifically a black leopard (black leopards are caused by a recessive gene, this condition is known as melanism.) Though golden leopards with rosettes are described as panthers by some as well. So we can consider the terms "panther" and "leopard" synonyms for one another. Jaguars, simply because like leopards can have the condition of melanism, are also referred to as panthers; this sometimes simply adds to the confusion. As for what a big cat is... big cats (or great cats), can refer to two different groups of animals. Often, a big cat is a feline which can roar (this is caused by having a cartilage composed "hyoid bone" unlike in small cats, which creates the vibrating effect we call a roar); today (amongst naturally breeding felines), the only felines which can roar are lion, tiger, leopard, and jaguar. However, big cats can also refer to the felines in the subfamily Pantherinae, as well as the cheetah and cougar. So overall this would include the lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, snow leopard, clouded leopard, cheetah, and cougar.

Answer 6

A panther is a leopard that is black. A courgar is a mountain lion or puma that is indiginous to North America. If you are talking about a Florida Panther, they are almost identical to a cougar. Size and Range would be determined by the encroachment of man and the abundance of prey.

Answer 7

Panther, painter, cougar, puma and mountain lion
are all names for the same kind of animal. The
black panther, however, is a black leopard. As
usual, the common names of animals are used
loosely and variably in different areas. Almost any
kind of animal can occasionally produce either a
white individual (albino) or a black one (melano).
These may both occur in a single litter of offspring.

Answer 8

Same Critter just called different things in different states

Answer 9

I think the only difference is the color. Maybe also there home range.

Answer 10

Amazed that I found this question already answered! Its like you've read my mind!