In Rudyard Kipling's imaginative "Just So" story, the originally plain, sandy-coloured Leopard and his human hunting companion, the Ethiopian, struggle to find food after their similarly coloured prey move from the open High Veldt to a speckled, shadowy forest and develop camouflage (blotches and stripes). Advised by the wise Baboon to adapt to the new environment, the Ethiopian changes his skin to black, and then presses his black fingertips all over the Leopard, creating the distinctive spots. This whimsical tale explains how the Leopard got its markings as a necessary adaptation for survival and hunting in a changed landscape, illustrating the concept of camouflage.

In Rudyard Kipling's imaginative "Just So" story, the originally plain, sandy-coloured Leopard and his human hunting companion, the Ethiopian, struggle to find food after their similarly coloured prey move from the open High Veldt to a speckled,...

How The Leopard Got His Spots | Just So Stories