A Mountain Lion, or Puma, Has the Scientific Name Felis

Question

A mountain lion, or puma, has the scientific name Felis concolor. The term Felis is the
A) species.
B) genus.
C) kingdom.
D) order.
E) family.

Accepted Answer

Felis is the genus, as it identifies the specific group of cats to which the mountain lion belongs. The species name is concolor, which distinguishes mountain lions from other members of the Felis genus. Kingdom, order, and family are broader taxonomic categories that include multiple genera and species.