They can run fast and have a flexiblespinelike a cheetahs to help them maneuver around obstacles and change direction quickly. Thank you for the education beyond my question including new information on the panther species and the misnamed Florida panther! Mountain lions once ranged more extensively than any other mammal in the Western Hemisphere. You will find more information about our wildlife conservation campaigns HERE. These animals have a gestation period of 90 to 96 days. ), then you may not know how big a mountain lion is. Both panthers and mountain lions are animals with confusing etymology. North American Mountain Lion vs The largest of the Leopards. Lions are in the Panthera genus and Puma/ML/Cougar are in a separate genus called Puma. Why Are Tigers So Scary? If youve never seen one face to face (and hopefully you wont! They have especially keen eyesight, and they usually find prey by seeing it move. Due in major part to the bounty system, the cats are now confined to the West, except for a small population in Florida. This was a great article with interesting scientific facts. Common sense would tell us that lions are stronger than leopards, and it would be right.Comparing the size of both animals, lions have a huge advantage over leopards. In Central and south America they tend to be significantly small, about 20-45 kgs and max up to 60 or 70 kgs. i do believe the lifestyle of leopards (constantly dragging carcasses up trees all their life) would require more strength then a cougar. Bobcats are thick, fluffy, and weigh only a maximum of 40 pounds. Panthers are black and mountain lions are tawny brown with cream stomachs, chests, and necks. Mountain lions are obligate carnivores, like all other cats. The biggest difference for most people and a mountain lion would be in the height. Your email address will not be published. At three feet at the shoulders, mountain lions can be intimidating nonetheless. Theyre pretty big, but that isnt enough information. The mountain lion is called the cat of many names and symbolizes strength throughout history. Females typically weigh between 29 and 64 kg, averaging 42 kg. Even though its just an inch bigger, you definitely shouldnt try to find hands with one of these cats. So, before we look at the idea of how to differentiate a panther vs mountain lion, we have to define what animals were talking about. Leopards are also rather solitary creatures, staying in pairs for a few days only during mating season. Despite their large size, mountain lions tend to be fairly light. Adult males weigh 40 to 60 percent more than adult females. Pests such as voles, chipmunks, gophers, squirrels, mice, and birds can wreak havoc on your garden if left unchecked. The mountain lion is called the cat of many names. Panthera pardus, a large wild cat with a spotted coat native to Africa and Asia, especially the male of the species (in contrast to leopardess). However, their surprising attribute comes from their length. The young may stay with their mother for as long as 26 months, but usually separate after about 15 months. Even looking at the largest house cat, the Maine Coon, the mountain looks huge. Panthers are stronger than mountain lions and can pack on over 100lbs more than them. As a matter of fact, The Univ of Vermont calls their sports teams the Catamounts. Rosettes of jaguars are like jagged black circles with dots of black inside them. What's in a name? Adult male mountain lions are around 2.4 m long from nose to tail tip, and females average 2.05 m, with overall ranges between 1.50 to 2.75 m nose to tail suggested for the species in general. Their population is probably smaller than the Florida Panthers NHL organization (also found in South Florida near Ft. Lauderdale. Though smaller, females still average 9 ft in length. Aug 07, 2010 #2. At 8 feet long from nose to tail, mountain lions rival some of the biggest big cats, including leopards, lions, and tigers. The same is true of black panthers according to eMammal, a division of the Smithsonian Institute, the term black panther refers to darkly colored leopards and jaguars. An adult male will weigh an average of 110 to 180 pounds, and some are found to be much larger, even up to 250 pounds. Learn how your comment data is processed. There is no difference between cougars, pumas, and mountain lions. Its impossible to say for sure when you take all languages into account. Compared to a mountain lion, any house cats paws are tiny! These animals go by many names, including cougars, pumas, catamounts, and many more. It is panthers in louisiana regardless of to what wildlife says. 'Florida panther'; Leopard noun. Regardless of to what wildlife says lol what are you even trying to say here? Jaguars are golden with large black rosettes, while mountain lions are a tawny brown. And, much like the average house cat, bobcats are only a fraction of the size of the mountain lion. Mountain lions have an essential role to play in their ecosystems. Breeds like the Anatolian shepherd have a history in livestock communities where shepherds needed an extra hand (or paw) tending to their flocks, especially when it came to predators like the mountain lion. However, despite this, you may not know exactly just how large they are. Mountain Lion Mark Their Territory By Urinating And Leaving Large Scratch Marks On Trees. Were going to cover everything you need to know about them right here in this article. In New England they were either called Mountain Lions or Catamounts. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Mountain lion cubs can hiss and make chirping sounds. Mountain lions also dont have a set breeding or mating season. Their secret weapon is climbing, at which they excel. These ranges overlap, so the cats share some parts. It would be quite a fight. When the mother is ready, she will typically give birth to between 1-5 cubs. They have been known to fight other mountain lions even to death to protect their territory. Even though we hear ita lot in movies and on TV, mountain lions dont make that "wild cat scream" very often. A lot of people are between 5 foot 4 and 6 foot 4, but a mountain lion can reach 8 feet long, tail included. Leopards typically reach a maximum weight of 200 lbs, while the maximum for a mountain lion is 220 lbs. These are expert hunters, and they have no qualms about attacking humans that are in their territory. Panthera pardus - leopard (panther) Puma concolor - puma (cougar, mountain lion) Panthera onca - jaguar. Of course, the panther would not come away unscathed since mountain lions are still tough fighters. I know cougars can kill adult moose and bears. Comparatively, the cougar is better off as it has a wider range of habitats. That doesnt work for equaling the weight, though! Depending on the level of darkness that is achieved by the panthers fur coat, these rosette patterns may be distinct enough to see, or they might be completely blacked out. The mountain lion would win due to its stronger bite, extra body mass, and overall strength. Yet at the same time it is difficult to ignore the slight upper hand that cougar has in terms of weigh. Although leopards are very muscular and robust, they prefer to hunt middle-sized prey up to 90 lbs, but they can kill prey as big as adult male eland, weighing about 2 000 lbs. Lions are significantly larger than leopards and also have more bite force. That you would even include the reference makes you a spreader of propaganda and disinformation. When solitary, these animals need between 50 and 125 square miles to roam, with males preferring more space. Writing about critters of various sizes and shapes has been a wonderful experience so far! They are both big cats. Mountain lions and cougars are animals; the same animal referred to with different names depending on the region they are found in. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Hi, my name is Joe Edwards and I am fascinated by the world of big cats. If youre unfamiliar with the wild cats of the Americas, it can actually be easy to mix up these two fierce felines. When it comes to holding hands, a human and a mountain lion are almost equal, with the mountain lion having a paw just an inch or so bigger than a human hand. Those living in warm, humid areas tend to be a darker, reddish brown color, and mountain lions found in colder climates have thicker, longer hair that is almost silver-gray in color. This is a combination of their mainly deer diet and their need to be quiet and stealthy. Jaguars cannot purr like mountain lions and house cats. In fact, the scientific name of the cougar is Puma Concolor, a name that combines the Peruvian word with a Latin word meaning of one color.. No matter where they are, mountain lions typically prefer to stay away from humans and too much development. They are carnivores with large, sharp canine teeth designed for stabbing and tearing their prey apart. The Florida panther population is found on the opposite side of Florida in south Florida and the Everglades. They are both capable hunters using ambush as their preferred hunting technique. They are medium size cats with bodyweights range from 25 to 55 kilograms. Typically, the larger animals are closer to the poles and will be in counties like Alaska and Argentina or Chile. Mountain lions have no distinguishable markings, and have only a tawny or tan colored coat. Panther is basically a blanket term that can be applied to a variety of big cats found throughout the world, including jaguars, leopards, tigers, and lions. If we take responsibility for our own actions, pets, livestock, and property, we can learn to live with mountain lions and appreciate their power and grace. Up to the shoulder, mountain lions can measure up to a maximum of three feet, and they can weigh up to 220 lbs. These cats may be on the prowl during the day or at night, but they are most active at dusk and dawn. Thats where a mountain lion size comparison like this comes in hand. The American lion's scientific name is Puma concolor, and is sometimes referred to as "the cat of many names.". Females tend to live longer: median lifespan is about 16 years. Puma and Mountain Lion are some of the most common names for cougars. Now, you can tell them apart with ease! Whether you call it a puma, cougar, or ghost cat, theres no denying that the mountain lion is a pretty big cat although theyre not a big cat. Number of young at birth: 1 to 6; usually 3 or 4, Weight at birth: 8 to 15 ounces (227 to 425 grams), Length: 2.8 to 5 feet (86 to 155 centimeters), Weight: Females weigh 75 to 105 pounds (34 to 48 kilograms); males weigh 116 to 158 pounds (53 to 72 kilograms), Tail length: 2 to 3 feet (60 to 97 centimeters).