juvenile puma

Summer Saturday Nights, June 22, 2013.

Still my favorite cat species.

Even more than the newly recognized poodle cat???
Poodle Cat: New Breed Of Feline Is Adorably Fluffy (VIDEO)

Back on track...

..am I the only person who CAN see a hint of a cheetah eyestripe in young Pumas?

Incidentally, can an American try to explain where in the US Puma concolor gets called what?

Sorry, I don't think there is an answer to that question. We mix them up just to keep people on their toes.

I can't vouch for most of the country but it seems in Arizona and Southern California, mountain lion is the most commonly used name, while in the northwest cougar is most common.

Northwest (Washington and Oregon) - cougar
Rocky Mountain West and Southwest (California, Idaho, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas) - mountain lion
Southeast (Florida) - panther

I have heard it said there are 40 different names used, but these are the only three I ever hear used in the United States (plus puma which more scientifically minded people use). Some other often cited names like "catamount" or "painter" I do not think have been used since the 1800's.

Actually Idaho and Utah use "cougar" primarily.