The mountain lion (Puma concolor) prefers habitats with dense underbrush and rocky areas for stalking but also lives in open areas. Also known as the cougar, puma, panther, or catamount, it is a large cat native to the Americas. In fact, it is the most widely distributed large wild terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere. Mountain lions are large, tan cats – they are more closely related to smaller felines, including the domestic cat than to any subspecies of lion. Their bodies are mainly covered in tawny-beige fur, except for the whitish-gray belly and chest. This cat is largely solitary and is considered both nocturnal and crepuscular, although daytime sightings do occur. The mountain lion holds the Guinness record for the animal with the greatest number of names, with over 40 in English alone. Puma" is the common name used in Latin America and most parts of Europe. The term puma is also sometimes used in the United States. In the western United States and Canada, it is called "mountain lion", a name first used in writing in 1858.[13] Other names include "panther" and "catamount" (meaning "cat of the mountains").
