5 Structural Difference Between Cougar and Mountain Lion with Similarities

What is the difference between cougar and mountain lion?

Wild animals complete the food chain and they balance the ecosystem. Some animals are confused because of their physical appearance and behavior because they belong to the same family. Some may be the same but have different names according to where they are found.

The main difference between cougar and mountain lion is that they have been given different names by people according to where they are found but they belong to the same species.

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Comparison Table (Cougar vs Mountain Lion)

Characteristics Cougar Mountain Lion
Other names They are referred to as a puma, mountain lion. They are referred to as panther, cougar, etc.
What they feed on They feed on small insects, deer, etc. They feed on mules, moose, etc.
Where found They are found in Patagonia. They are found in Canada.
Appearance They appear wild and giant. They appear fiercer.
Habitat They are found in low lands and forests. They are found in wetlands and deserts.

What is a Cougar?

Difference Between Cougar and Mountain Lion

Cougar is an animal part of the cat family. They are found in forests and adapted to lowlands and mountains. They prefer to live under a bush so that they may be able to spot their prey from a distance and attack it in ambush.

Their heads are round and their ears are erect. Their coats have a tan color. They have large paws with built muscular hind legs that enable them to run after their prey.

They are carnivores hence they feed on meat alone. They feed on animals such as deer, sheep, horses, and cows. The ones found in Northern regions also prey on animals such as insects or other small animals like rabbits and raccoons.

The male cougars mate with the females and after that, they leave. The responsibility of taking care of the young ones is left for the female cougars. After two years the cubs are left to live on their own.

What is a Mountain Lion?

Difference Between Cougar and Mountain Lion

They are part of the cat family and they belong to the same species as the cougars. Their appearance is similar to cougar. They are large and are powerfully built and heavy. They are dangerous but they do not have the ability to roar.

They have various names as they are widely distributed. People from different areas refer to them differently. They can be distinguished from the rest members of the cat family due to their larger paws and hind legs.

Their cubs have spotted skin with blue eyes and rings on their tails. The cubs leave after two years. They prey on both big and small animals like the mule, deer, elk, moose. They are very dangerous in that sometimes they may break the neck of their prey before killing them.

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Main Differences between Cougar and Mountain Lion

  1. They are found in different regions. Cougars are found in Patagonia while mountain lions are found in Canada.
  2. They have different hunting techniques.
  3. They hunt on different animals due to the availability of the animals around the regions they are found.
  4. Their names are different depending on the region where they are found.

Similarities between Cougar and Mountain Lion

  1. They belong to the same species.
  2. They are both carnivores.
  3. They both live in the forests.
  4. They both have the ability to run fast.

In Conclusion

Cougar and mountain lion belong to the same species. It is the same animal only that it has been given different names depending on the regions where they are found. Cougars are found in Patagonia while mountain lions are found in Canada. The main feature that makes cougars be different from mountain lions is the geographical location.

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