Mountain lion, puma, cougar, panther—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. So how did it get so many names? Mostly because it has such a large range, and people from different countries have called it different things. All of these names are considered correct, but scientists usually use the name puma. In Southern California, they are commonly called mountain lions. Scientists classify the mountain lion as a small cat, as it does not roar but purr as smaller cats do. Yet its slender body and calm demeanor are more like that of a cheetah; both cats would rather flee than fight, and rarely confront humans.