Lion Information

Some quick facts:

Scientific name: Panthera leo
Average shoulder height: Males: 1.2 m and Females: 90cm
Weight: Males: 190kg and Females: 130kg
Gestation period: 110 days
Life expectancy: 13 -15 yrs

Physical Characteristics

The lion is the second largest feline after the tiger. With a strong jaw, powerful legs and long canine teeth, the lion can bring down and kill large prey. The coloration of lions vary from light buff to yellowish, reddish or dark brown. The tail tuft is black and the underparts are generally lighter. The colour of the mane varies from blank to blonde. During confrontations with others, the lions mane makes him look bigger than he really is. The average weights for lions are between 150-225 kg for males, and 120-150 kg for females. Head and body length is 170-250 cm in males and 140-175 cm in females. Shoulder height is about 123 cm in males and 100 cm in females. The tail ends in a hairy tuft and is 70-100 cm. The tuft conceals a spine, approximately 5 mm long, formed of the final sections of tail bone fused together. The function of the tuft and spine are unknown. The tuft develops around 5½ months of age and readily identifiable at 7months.

The mane of the male lion, unique amongst cats, is one of the most distinctive characteristics of the species. It makes the lion appear larger, providing an excellent intimidation display; this aids the lion during confrontations with other lions. The size, presence, absence, and colour of the mane is associated with genetic precondition, sexual maturity, climate and testosterone production; the rule of thumb is the darker and fuller the mane, the healthier the lion. Research also suggests that mane length signals fighting success in male-male relationships. Darker-maned individuals may have higher offspring survival and longer reproductive lives, although they suffer in the hottest months of the year. In prides led by a coalition of two or three males, it is possible that lionesses solicit mating more actively with heavily maned lions.

Scientists once believed that the distinct status of some subspecies could be justified by morphology, including the size of the mane. Morphology was used to identify subspecies such as the Barbary lion and Cape Lion. Research has suggested, however, that environmental factors influence the color and size of a lion's mane, such as the ambient temperature. The cooler ambient temperature in European and North American zoos, for example, can result in a heavy mane. Thus the mane is an inappropriate marker for identifying subspecies. However the males of the Asiatic subspecies are characterized by sparser manes than average African lions.

White lions

The white lion is not a distinct subspecies, but a special morph with a genetic condition called leucism, that causes paler colouration similar to that of the white tiger. The condition is similar to melanism, which causes black panthers. White lions are more commonly found in captivity, where breeders deliberately select them. The recessive gene in white lions causes the unusual cream colour of their coats.

Confirmation of the existence of the White lion only came in the late twentieth century. For hundreds of years prior, the White lion had been a figment of legend circulating through South Africa, the white pelage of the animal said to represent the goodness in all creatures. Claimed sightings were first reported in the early 1900s, and continued, infrequently, for almost 50 years until, in 1975, a litter of white lion cubs were found at Timbavati Game Reserve.

Behaviour

Lions live a lazy lifestyle and are typically active for only two to four hours every day. They are most active at night and rest during the day. A lion pride usually consists of a group of 2 to 12 closely related adult females with their young, attended by one to six adult males. If there is more than one male they are often, but not always, close relatives and often brothers.

Only pride males have access to pride females. Males take over prides by driving out the current males in savage and sometimes fatal fights, and are in turn displaced by new challengers after 1 to 10 years. The new males expel any young males from the pride and try to kill all the cubs to bring the females quickly back into breeding condition and so ensure offspring will have their genes. After a take-over females come into heat and mate but, do not bear cubs until the new males have established their status against possible challengers.

Diet

Lions generally hunt medium and large prey, wildebeest, including impala, zebra and gemsbok. Lions have also been known to hunt larger species such as buffalo, giraffe, hippo and young elephants. Lions will also eats fish, birds, reptiles, insects and smaller mammals down to the size of mice.

Reproduction

Females usually give birth to litters of one to four cubs and up to as many as six. Weaning starts at 10 weeks, and is completed by 6 months. Lions mate about four times an hour over two to three days! Pride males do not compete for females as the females will mate with all of a pride's males in turn as each loses interest in her. Pride females suckle one another's cubs, with no bias towards their own.