變更

根據美洲獅[[線粒體DNA]]的研究顯示，佛羅里達山獅與很多美洲獅亞種都很相似<ref name=Culver/>，建議將牠們合併重新分類為[[北美山獅]]（''Puma concolor couguar''）。自此，一些經典的文獻都不將佛羅里達山獅看為獨立的亞種，而是與其他亞種合併為北美山獅。<ref name=msw3>{{MSW3 Wozencraft | pages = 544-545}}</ref> 不過在研究方面，尤其是有關佛羅里達山獅的保育工作，仍然會將牠們列為獨立的亞種。<ref name=improving>{{cite journal en |first=Michael J. |last=Conroy |coauthors=Paul Beier; Howard Quigley; Michael R. Vaughan |url=http://www.wildlifejournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-pdf&file=i0022-541X-70-1-1.pdf |title=Improving The Use Of Science In Conservation: Lessons From The Florida Panther |journal=Journal of Wildlife Management |volume=70 |issue=1 |pages=1-7 |doi=10.2193/0022-541X(2006)70[1:ITUOSI]2.0.CO;2 |accessdate=2007-06-11|date=January 2006}}</ref>然而重新分類的建議卻仍未有公認的做法。<ref name=FloridaRecovery>{{cite web |url=http://www.fws.gov/verobeach/Florida%20panther%20files/Panther%20Recovery%20Plan%202006_01_31%20-%20no%20figures.pdf |title=Florida Panther Recovery Program (Draft) |accessdate=2007-06-11 |author=The Florida Panther Recovery Team |date=2006-01-31 |format=PDF |publisher=U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025124654/http://www.fws.gov/verobeach/Florida%20panther%20files/Panther%20Recovery%20Plan%202006_01_31%20-%20no%20figures.pdf |archivedate=2007-10-25 }}</ref>