By Any Other Name

Mountain lions, also called cougars, pumas, panthers, deer tigers, catamounts and many other names, are in the Guinness Book of World Records as the mammal with the most (40!) common names. The reason for the plethora of monikers is their wide distribution, which, thanks to their adaptability and a lack of natural predators, stretches from the Canadian Yukon to the southern tip of Chile.

I Can Speak My Mind

We often think of mountain lions as silent hunters, but they can make a variety of sounds when they want to. Chirps are used to communicate with other lions over long distances and between mothers and cubs. Growls, snarls and hisses are used to intimidate rivals or when defending cubs or kills. Females make startling screams or caterwauls during mating season, and mountain lions can even meow like domestic cats. They cannot, however, roar. Only certain cats of the genus Panthera, which does not include mountain lions, have the throat structure needed to roar.

I’m a Stealth Predator

Mountain lions have especially keen eyesight and hearing and typically identify their quarry by seeing or hearing it move. Sneaking quietly, or waiting patiently in the underbrush, they ambush prey as it roams by. They’re better suited for short, powerful bursts than long chases and can reach up to 50 miles per hour in a sprint. Their muscular hind legs enable them to leap up to 18 feet vertically and 40 feet horizontally in a single bound. Their tail, which can be up to one-third of their body length, helps with balance and flexibility when navigating rocky landscapes and avoiding obstacles. It also allows them to quickly change direction while pursuing prey.