Did You Know?
This animal holds a Guinness World Record for maximum names!
These names vary from region to region, and some unique history and meaning
Next time you have a party, wow your friends with this information. Ask them if they know an animal with the maximum number of names. Most will not be able to guess the animal. It is the cougar. Yes, you read that right. The cougar holds the Guinness record for the animal with the greatest number of names, with over 40 in English alone!
It is a large cat native to the Americas, second only in size to the stockier jaguar. They are not technically grouped with the ‘true’ big cats, as they are slightly smaller than other big cats, and they lack the vocal physiology to roar (unlike lions, tigers, leopards and jaguars).
It is a powerful and agile predator that can reach speeds of up to 50 miles per hour. Pumas are found in a variety of habitats, including forests, mountains, and deserts. They are solitary animals that hunt at night. Their diet consists of deer, elk, rabbits, and other small mammals.
Common names
The name puma is the most common name for cougars in Latin America and most parts of Europe. It is thought to have originated from the Quechua word puma, which means cat of the mountains.
The name mountain lion is more common in the western US and Canada. It is thought to have originated from the Spanish word león de montaña, which also means cat of the mountains.
The name catamount is thought to have originated from the Algonquian word chatamount, which again means cat of the mountains. It is more commonly used in the eastern US.
The 40 names!
American lion, catamount, chat sauvage, colorado lion, couguar, deer tiger, Florida panther, ghost cat, Indian lion, jaguarondi, mountain lion, painter, panther, painted cat, red tiger, silver cat, screamer, southern lion, spotted cat, stone cat, tigre, uapití, vayu, west Mexican lion, yaguar! Quite a long list for an animal whose weight is as low as 15 kg (female) and 100 kg (male).
These names vary from region to region, and many of them have their own unique history and meaning. For instance, the name ghost cat is thought to have originated from the belief that cougars are omens of death. The name silver cat is thought to have originated from the cougar’s silvery-gray coat. And the name screamer is thought to have originated from the cougar’s loud, piercing cry.
Interesting!
1. They have the longest hind legs in relation to body size of any cat.
2. They can climb trees and swim.
3. They are listed as ‘least concern’ by the IUCN, but their populations are declining due to habitat loss and hunting.
Cougars in India?
No, India does not have pumas. They are native to the Americas, and their range does not extend into Asia. The big cats found in India are the Asiatic lion, the Bengal tiger, the leopard, the snow leopard, and the clouded leopard.
