Lion

Identity & Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Felidae

Lion

Lions are the second largest filed. There is some physical variation between subspecies and geographic regions, including coat color, size, and mane characteristics. Lions of southern Africa are generally larger than those of eastern portion of the range. Coat color is generally tawny with lighter under parts. The male’s mane varies from tawny to black and may darken with age. Asian lions have a fold of skin running along the belly (Haas, 2005). Cubs are born with dark rosettes that may appear as stripes when close together. Faded spots may remain on the belly of some females (Sunquist & Sunquist, 2002). Albinism and melanism are rare but white lions have been found in the Transvaal region of South Africa. The AZA Lion SSP discourages the breeding or acquisition of this color phase as all individuals currently found in zoos are severely inbred (AZA, 2011).

The most distinctive feature of the lion is the male’s mane, making lions one of the most sexually dimorphic members of the order Carnivora. Males begin to grow a mane at about 11 months of age but the appearance will vary greatly between individuals, in fact it can be used to distinguish individuals in the wild at some distance.

In general it will grow thicker, longer and darker with age. In addition to providing an impressive and intimidating appearance, the mane also provides some protection during aggressive interactions with other animals (Sunquist & Sunquist, 2002). Manes are an indicator of physical condition, communicating this to both males and females but it also may limit mobility and restrict therms-regulation. In general, the hotter and more arid the climate, the smaller the mane, which is a reflection of both food availability and temperature.

The Lion

At a glance, Lion:

• STATUS: Though the population of lions is declining, they are not currently listed as endangered or threatened.
• SIZE: Males stand at a shoulder height of about 4 feet and reach about 5 ½ to 8 feet in length. Their tails average a length of 3 to 3 ½ feet, and they can weigh as much as 330 to 550 pounds. Females are smaller than males.
• Distribution: Asian lions once ranged throughout India but by the early 1900s its range had been reduced to the Gir Forest in India. Lions are now extinct from North Africa but still range from south of the Sahara to the Cape, except for Congo forest. They range from the desert to mountainous regions over 13,000 feet.
• HABITAT: The African lion inhabits grassy plains, savannahs, open woodlands and scrub country.
• FOOD: Lions feed upon a wide array of animals, including wildebeest, impala, zebra, giraffe, buffalo and wild hogs. They will also feed on smaller animals such as hares, birds and reptiles.
• Behavior: The lion’s habitats include grasslands, dry forest, scrub, woodlands and desert. Lions are primarily terrestrial but do occasionally climb trees to rest or escape other animals. Cubs are good climbers and will play in trees. Lions have also been known to dig to get to aardvark or warthogs in burrows. They do not use water as frequently as some other cats but are adept swimmers. Lions will
• LIFESPAN: 15 years in the wild, 24 years in captivity.