World Book Online - "Panther is a name used loosely for certain members of the cat family. It is given to the leopard, which is a native of Asia and Africa. The puma of North America, also known as the cougar or mountain lion, is sometimes called a panther, particularly in the Eastern United States. A few authorities apply the name only to large leopards."
Also, the mountain lion, cougar, puma, and catamount are all the same feline.
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