A Bridge Will Help Humans and Lions Coexist in Los Angeles

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by badrunner

So there's only three cat species (tigers, lions, jaguars) that are bigger than mountain lions? I'll keep that in mind next time someone tries to tell me that a mountain lion isn't actually a "big cat."

With the average weight of male cougars being 150 pounds, they definitely qualify as "big cats'.

But on a genetic level, they are more closely related to domestic cats, cheetahs, ocelots, bobcats, etc. than they are to the true panthers (tigers, lions, jaguars, leopards, and snow leopards), which causes some confusing overlap in terminology.

They are the two main sub-families of cats. Cougars really and truly are not lions, despite some superficial resemblance, which is why I think the name "mountain lion" is dumb, because it only serves to cause even more confusion.

Call them cougars. Call them pumas. Call them catamounts. Any other name is better "mountain lion".

[badrunner]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

Call them cougars. Call them pumas. Call them catamounts. Any other name is better "mountain lion".

Cougar elicits chuckles. Puma is good but sounds a bit foreign and exotic and people are more likely to confuse it for other animals. Catamount, I've never actually heard anyone calling it that so it must be a regional thing. Mountain lion is perfectly descriptive, if not entirely phylogenetically accurate.

She is a small elusive lion that lives in the mountains above the city.




AP

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by badrunner

Cougar elicits chuckles.

Chuckles or not, it pleases me that the main title for the entry on these animals at wikipedia is "Cougar".

"Mountain Lion" redirects to "Cougar", as it should.

[dave8721]

Florida put underpasses under I-75 through Big Cypress and The Florida Panther NWR
Like this one:
https://www.google.com/maps/@26.1530649,...SuJVAD-4ttaK4ZjYdofTg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Still there were 27 documented Florida Panther deaths last year, 21 of them were hit by cars (there are only between 120 and 230 left).

Wildlife cams under the underpasses get cool shots:

[MAC123]

Originally Posted by badrunner

So there's only three cat species (tigers, lions, jaguars) that are bigger than mountain lions? I'll keep that in mind next time someone tries to tell me that a mountain lion isn't actually a "big cat."

The size of the cat does not determine whether it's a "big cat" unless you are specifically talking about the size and not the classification.

[JManc]

Originally Posted by MAC123

The size of the cat does not determine whether it's a "big cat" unless you are specifically talking about the size and not the classification.

Correct. Mountain lions are not in the genus Panthera thus are not roaring cats. They meow and purr instead like other species in the Felinae genus.

[proghousehead]

Mountain Lions are physically larger than leopards but as previously pointed out, are not considered “big cats” as they do not roar.

Having said that - Mountain Lions can and have preyed on humans. Ironically, Jaguars, despite being a “big cat”, are far and away the least likely of the larger cat species to attack or eat a human. In order of danger to humans, the order likely goes as such:

Tigers
Leopards
Lions
Mountain Lions
Jaguars
Cheetahs

[Comrade]

https://kutv.com/news/local/mountain-lion-breaks-into-salt-lake-city-home-through-glass-door

[badrunner]

Originally Posted by MAC123

The size of the cat does not determine whether it's a "big cat" unless you are specifically talking about the size and not the classification.

"Big cat" is not a scientific term, it's a colloquial term. There's no point in insisting on very narrow usage of the term, where you arbitrarily end up with small big cats and big small cats and big cats that don't roar. A mountain lion has been colloquially referred to as a big cat because it's usually the biggest cat in its range and the term big cat is used to distinguish from smaller cats like lynxes and bobcats. Ever heard of "big cat sightings" in North America? What big cat do you think they are referring to?

Thankfully (but confusingly), every granting organization seems to define their cats differently, and some include cougars! The Wildlife Conservation Society and Panthera (the organization, not the genus) says there are seven species of Big Cats:

Lions
Tigers
Jaguars
Leopards
Snow leopards
Cougars (Puma concolor)
Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus)

While National Geographic’s Big Cats Initiative agrees with those seven, but adds two more (Figure 1):

Lions
Tigers
Jaguars
Leopards
Snow leopards
Cougars
Cheetahs
Clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa)
Sunda clouded leopards (Neofelis diardi)

https://wildlife.forestry.ubc.ca/blog/when-is-a-big-cat-not-a-big-cat/

[KevinFromTexas]

Originally Posted by badrunner

So there's only three cat species (tigers, lions, jaguars) that are bigger than mountain lions? I'll keep that in mind next time someone tries to tell me that a mountain lion isn't actually a "big cat."

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

With the average weight of male cougars being 150 pounds, they definitely qualify as "big cats'.

But on a genetic level, they are more closely related to domestic cats, cheetahs, ocelots, bobcats, etc. than they are to the true panthers (tigers, lions, jaguars, leopards, and snow leopards), which causes some confusing overlap in terminology.

They are the two main sub-families of cats. Cougars really and truly are not lions, despite some superficial resemblance, which is why I think the name "mountain lion" is dumb, because it only serves to cause even more confusion.

Call them cougars. Call them pumas. Call them catamounts. Any other name is better "mountain lion".

Originally Posted by JManc

Correct. Mountain lions are not in the genus Panthera thus are not roaring cats. They meow and purr instead like other species in the Felinae genus.

I'm going more by weight. When one is trying to take my leg off I won't be screaming "oh, thank goodness, he's only meowing and not roaring!" I just meant that their weight puts them into the top 5 "big cats". The sound they make shouldn't matter as much. I get it that it's a matter of scientific classification, but I'm going by their structure, and they're not far off from the biggest of the big cats. Male mountain lions can weigh up to 220 pounds. I don't think people quite appreciate how big that really is.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by badrunner

So there's only three cat species (tigers, lions, jaguars) that are bigger than mountain lions? I'll keep that in mind next time someone tries to tell me that a mountain lion isn't actually a "big cat."

Big cat is more a scientific term to define members of the subfamily Pantherinae. It includes the large lions/tigers/jaguars, the mid-sized leopards/snow leopards, and the relatively small clouded leopards (which only weigh between 25 and 50 pounds).

The other subfamily of cats, Felinae, contains all of the smaller-sized cats, plus the cougar and cheetah. Cheetahs and cougars are way closer related to domestic cats than to lions and the like.

[badrunner]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Big cat is more a scientific term to define members of the subfamily Pantherinae. It includes the large lions/tigers/jaguars, the mid-sized leopards/snow leopards, and the relatively small clouded leopards (which only weigh between 25 and 50 pounds).

The other subfamily of cats, Felinae, contains all of the smaller-sized cats, plus the cougar and cheetah. Cheetahs and cougars are way closer related to domestic cats than to lions and the like.

Yes, I'm sure everyone already knows this lol. That's why I said a mountain lion is more like a big housecat.

But you are wrong. For the last time "big cat" is not a scientific term. It's not a formal taxonomic classification. And as you can see above, the organizations that issue grants and funding as well as the field scientists who study the animals do not go by that definition either. It's mostly just fodder for laymen and internet contrarians.

[dchan]

Whatever you call them, these "big" cats were a constant source of consternation for me when I was hunting or looking for something in the wilderness in Red Dead Redemption. They would just sneak up on me and take down the horse that I was mounted on. And unless I turned on Dead Eye to slow down time and set up my shot, the cat would come by to finish me off a few seconds later.

[badrunner]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

I'm going more by weight. When one is trying to take my leg off I won't be screaming "oh, thank goodness, he's only meowing and not roaring!" I just meant that their weight puts them into the top 5 "big cats". The sound they make shouldn't matter as much. I get it that it's a matter of scientific classification, but I'm going by their structure, and they're not far off from the biggest of the big cats. Male mountain lions can weigh up to 220 pounds. I don't think people quite appreciate how big that really is.

If it could take down Big Game, it's a Big Cat.

• Video Link

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by badrunner

But you are wrong. For the last time "big cat" is not a scientific term. It's not a formal taxonomic classification. And as you can see above, the organizations that issue grants and funding as well as the field scientists who study the animals do not go by that definition either. It's mostly just fodder for laymen and internet contrarians.

correct, "big cat" is not a scientific term.

it just means any old cat that is "big", as determined by whoever is using the phrase.

if any of us ever came across a 200+ pound cougar in the wild, none of us would call it anything other than "big".


btw, here's what wikipedia says about the term "big cat":

The term "big cat" is typically used to refer to any of the five living members of the genus Panthera, namely the tiger, lion, jaguar, leopard, and snow leopard, as well as the non-pantherine cheetah and cougar. However, only the first 4 of these species are able to roar.

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_cat

[SAN Man]

This was on the local newscast a couple weeks ago. A man hiking in Los Angeles was stalked by a Mountain Lion.

• Video Link

[badrunner]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

correct, "big cat" is not a scientific term.

it just means any old cat that is "big", as determined by whoever is using the phrase.

if any of us ever came across a 200+ pound cougar in the wild, none of us would call it anything other than "big".


btw, here's what wikipedia says about the term "big cat":



source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_cat

Oh and I'll be sure to tell the people at the Page Museum at the La Brea tar pits that their signs are completely wrong. Technically the sabretooth cat was NOT a "big cat" since it belonged to the genus smilodon and not panthera

[MAC123]

Originally Posted by badrunner

If it could take down Big Game, it's a Big Cat

So I'm a big cat now? That's nice to know.

[Pedestrian]

You guys worry about your little pussies. In my neighborhood we have real cats:

• Video Link

[badrunner]

Originally Posted by MAC123

So I'm a big cat now? That's nice to know.

Don't be silly. You are a dog. Not a cat. In areas where big cats and other apex predators have been extirpated, humans are top DOG.