Mountain Lion Skull (Cougar, Puma Concolor)

This is a repaired remix of the Mountain Lion Skull 3D model I found on Thingiverse. The original mesh file was damaged, so I repaired it and worked to restore as much of the skull’s imperfection detail as possible during the process. My 5 years old son and his friends love it. 

 

The Story Behind the Ver2 Profile

 

The original 3D scanned model has underbite and fitting issues. After reading feedbacks from the comments, I had a chance to speak with a zoologist during a visit to the San Diego Zoo with my son. I inquired about the underbite, the fit of the skull, and whether it was possible that the upper and lower portions might come from different specimens. She examined the printed model—my son carries it with him everywhere—and explained that it appears completely normal. “In the wild, dental irregularities such as underbites or overbites are common, as there’s no ‘dentist’ to correct them. Moreover, mountain lions typically exhibit a slight underbite”, She also noted that museums sometimes assemble displays from parts of different specimens, which is why many exhibits feature skulls with open mouths to conceal any discrepancies.

 

Although it is normal, but I still made the adjustment to the mandibular junction bone, so that the bottom part fits better with the top. I have both of the version available for download.

 

Below is the reference image she provided, along with the fix I implemented based on the reference.

Assembly Tips and regarding the fitting:

Use a hair dryer or heat gun slowly heat the mandibular junction bone (bottom part jaw connection) slightly to fit the top. The original version will be a little harder than the improved version. 

 

 

 

If you are interested in Saber-Toothed Cat/Tiger (Smilodon Fatalis)  Skull, you can find it here. 

 

Credit:

Special thanks to the Zoologist at San Diego Zoo for the invaluable advice.
3D Model - All thanks to Missoula Public Library. 
Puma concolor (mountain lion) from collection at the Philip L Wright Zoological Museum at the University of Montana.
Scanned by Kyle Wonders at the Missoula Public Library.
 

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