Animals That May Be Mistaken For Each Other

From birds, cephalopods and reptiles … to big cats and small insects … Here are 16 animals that may be mistaken for each other

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#5 Cougars, Mountain Lions, and Pumas
You’ve heard of all three animals, but what are the differences between them? That’s a trick question because all of those names refer to the same cat. Within the Western Hemisphere, experts say the cougar has the widest range of any terrestrial animals living in the wild. They can occur from the Canadian Yukon to the southern Andes of South America. They’re durable beasts that can adapt to a wide variety of habitats. Thanks to their extensive range, cougars have become known by many different names depending on where they show up. In the US and Canada they’re often called Mountain Lions. In Spanish-speaking countries they’re known as Pumas (poo-mahs). Overall, they’re known by more than 40 different names, which is a Guinness record.

#4 Octopi and Squid
These cephalopods almost seem like they could be the same animal. To the common eye their shapes can be nearly indistinguishable. But a key difference involves tentacles. Squid have them, but Octopi don’t. Both species have eight arms, which are lined with suckers. Tentacles can have sucker rings or hooks, but only at the tips of the appendage. Squid have two specialized tentacles, which are longer than the arms and are used for capturing prey. Another telltale difference are the animals’ noggins. Octopi have bulbous, rounded heads while Squid have triangular domes with fins on the sides. Overall, Squid tend to live longer and are larger than Octopi.

#3 Leopards and Cheetahs
While both of these cats occur primarily in Africa and have a similar appearance, there are ways to tell them apart. Along with leopards being bulkier animals, you can separate them by the patterns on their coats. While looking at them will make you see spots, the animals have different markings. Leopards have rosettes, which are complex clusters of spots that are densely packed. Cheetahs have about 2,000 solid black spots in patterns that are unique to the individual. They can also be distinguished by their unique stripes (or tear marks) that run from the corners of their eyes. There is one major difference that doesn’t involve the markings of these two beasts. Cheetahs are not always regarded as one of the five big cats since they occupy a separate genus and can’t roar. But they can outrun the others since they’re the world’s fastest animals on land.

#2 Thorny Devil and Desert Horned Lizard
Both of these reptiles occur in desert environments, but they live half a world away from each other. The Thorny Devil is found in the scrub lands and deserts of central Australia. The Desert Horned Lizard is native to the western regions of North America. Both of these creatures exhibit spiked exteriors and can camouflage themselves within their surroundings. There are some differences in their behaviors, though. The Aussie animal will exhibit a false head to startle predators. And the North American lizard is known to shoot blood from its eye as a means of self-defense. Does one of them look more prickly than the other?


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