Puma (Puma concolor) facial colouration. Photo © Art G · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
Leopard (Panthera pardus) facial colouration. Photo © Tedmek · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
The puma is the American counterpart for the leopard of Africa and Asia.
Their facial colourations are, however, extremely different, the puma being conspicuous enough to expose the stalking predator to its prospective prey, and the leopard being the most thoroughly camouflaged of any large felid.
A possible reason for this difference is that the puma was the largest cat over much of its range whereas the leopard needed to hide from the lion or the tiger throughout its range.
Robin and the Honey Badger, 8 January 2017
Photographs:
Puma concolor fang-baring
Panthera pardus fang-baring
