Onza

The Onza is claimed to be a feline species similar to a cougar. It is a cryptid—a creature whose existence has been alleged but not proven. The term has also been used to refer to the jaguarundi (Puma yaguaroundi).

The Spanish name onza derives from the Latin lynx, lyncis, and is equivalent to the English word "ounce", originally applied to the lynx but now more commonly to the snow leopard (Uncia uncia). There are old texts written by Spanish conquistadors about the onza, but they might refer to the jaguarundi, which is known as onza in many Mexican states.Onça is the Brazilian Portuguese word for jaguar, Panthera onca, where a spotted jaguar is known as onça-pintada and a melanistic one as onça-preta. These are real animals, occurring as far north as Mexico and possibly into the southwest of the United States. Also, a cat some call the "puma" Puma concolor is known most often as onça-parda in some areas of Brazil (in others, it is known by the name that predates American cougar, suçuarana).

A legend that is claimed to be less well known among cryptozoologists states that there are two species of jaguarundi living in Mexico, one usually called "onza" and the other called by other local names.

In another legend, according to some unknown cryptozoologists, a Mexican feline that first appeared in Aztec texts is an onza.

In another legend, Volume 13 of the Florentine Codex, a compilation of Aztec customs, beliefs and natural history, describes the cuitlamiztli, which is said to resemble a cougar but is far more aggressive.

In another legend, Christopher Columbus sent a letter from Mexico to "the Spanish kings" describing a remarkable animal: "A marksman killed a beast like a cat, but pretty much longer and with a human-like face. He pierced it with an arrow... Nevertheless, it was so wild that he had to cut a foreleg and a rear leg from it. When a boar saw the beast, it got the creeps... In spite of that, the huge cat was dying... It immediately attacked the boar, surrounded his snout with his tail and strongly pressed it. Then with the foreleg that was left, it strangled it."

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