What's in a name? This cat is known by more names than just about any other mammal. But no matter what you call it, it’s still the same cat: 𝙋𝙪𝙢𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙧, the largest of the small cat species. Its many monikers are the result of having such a large range. Early Spanish explorers of North and South America called it leon (lion) and gato monte (cat of the mountain), from which we get the name "mountain lion." “Puma” is the name the Incas gave this cat in their language. “Cougar” seems to have come from an old South American Indian word, cuguacuarana, which was shortened to cuguar and then spelled differently. And “panther” is a general term for cats that have solid-colored coats, so it was used for pumas as well as black jaguars. All of these names are considered correct, but scientists usually use the name puma. Here in Southern California they are commonly called mountain lions. #MountainLions #WeAintLion #CatsOfInstagram #Catuday #SanDiegoZoo 📷 Mike Wilson