King of the Desert

Most of us have heard the expression ‘King of the Jungle’ in reference to the lion in Africa, but the Mountain Lion (Puma concolor ) is pretty much king of the desert also.  Other than human beings, it has no predators, placing it at the top of the food chain in Arizona. It is also the only animal in Arizona known to stalk and attack humans on rare occasions.

Even though I have not personally had the pleasure of spotting one in the wild, I did take the photograph of the one used for my latest painting at the Desert Museum in Tucson. It is a great place to visit if you get the chance. They have quite a few native species in natural habitats, both flora and fauna.

Mountain Lion in watercolor.

Author: Ralph Sellers

First of all, let me borrow a line from the Grateful Dead...what a long strange trip its been. I grew up in Appalachia, not far from Wheeling, West Virginia. I decided at seventeen that working in the coal mines was not for me and soon found myself standing at an on-ramp with my thumb out. It was the Sixties and adventure beckoned. I'm a self taught artist, primarily focusing on the natural world. I enjoy painting the flora and fauna of this beautiful planet. I currently live in Arizona, and most of my recent works reflect the inhabitants of the Sonoran desert. View all posts by Ralph Sellers