Pictures Of The Week - Big Cats Making Faces

We had these two pictures save on our Pinterest account, and we couldn't help but notice the difference in the faces these two big cats are making. The first shows how fearsome and deadly these creatures can be; the second shows that all animals, no matter how powerful, can be playful.

Whoa, you don't want to mess with this guy!

But this guy seems kind of fun.

Seeing the two faces together reminded us of a very human occurrence; that of two siblings squabbling - one getting mad while the other makes faces. Do you see it?

Animals Native To Mexico

Since Cinco de Mayo is tomorrow, we thought we'd get into the spirit of things by featuring a few of the animals that are native to Mexico! Did you know that all of the animals listed were from Mexico?

Mexican Grey Wolf

 The Mexican grey wolf is one of the smallest wolf subspecies, getting no bigger than 4 to 5 feet in length and weighing 60 to 80 pounds (about the size of a German shepherd). Lobos, as they are often called, travel in small packs and hunt for elk, deer and, occasionally, livestock. 

Ocelot

Ocelots are hard to see or study because they are only active at night. Their eyes are specially designed with an extra layer on the inside that collects light, letting them see well in the dark. During the day, ocelots stay hidden and sleep in bushes, on tree limbs or hollow tree trunks.

Donkey

 Donkeys are domesticated members of the horse family. A male donkey is called a jack, a female is a jennet and a young donkey is a foal. It's a popular misconception that donkeys and mules are the same thing; donkeys are bred with mares to produce mules.

Puma

 Depending on the region, pumas are also known as cougars, mountain lions or panthers. This territorial, solitary cat is a stalk-and-ambush predator, feeding on deer, elk, moose, sheep and domesticated cattle and horses. Pumas can live out in the open but prefer areas with dense underbrush and rocky areas.

Jaguar

 The jaguar is one of the "big cats", smaller than only the lion and the tiger. Although its coat closely resembles that of a leopard, jaguars are typically larger and have a sturdier build. Jaguars prefer dense rainforests as habitats, and are often found along water. They are one of the few big cats that like to swim.

Coati

 Coatis are members of the raccoon family. They have paws and markings similar to raccoons, walk on the soles of their feet and are double jointed like raccoons. Coatis are very smart, have strong limbs and like to dig. They are active during both day and night.

Central and South American Cats

Let’s move south for a look at some more cats. We’ll start with the more well-known Jaguar.

Sometimes a jaguar is black on black—the spots are still there, but are only visible in the right light—this is what’s commonly called the black panther. Mostly though jaguars are golden with black spots that form circles (rosettes) around other spots. They look a lot like a leopard, but are stockier and squarer jawed. Jaguars also like water.

Watch one in action.

Animals that begin with O

This week I thought I’d focus on animals that begin with O. I’ll start with one of my favorites—the Ocelot.

Bigger than a domestic cat, but small compared to other “big cats,” the Ocelot is also called the Painted Leopard. Its fur is similar to a jaguar’s.

Ocelots live in South and Central American, Mexico, and sometimes can be found in Texas.

The artist Salvador Dalí frequently traveled with his pet ocelot, even bringing it aboard the luxury cruise liner SS France. However, they are not common as pets.

Here’s a video of a an ocelot kitten and his mom at the Oregon zoo:


Isn't he cute?

JJ