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Comparative view of the human and lion frames, c1860.
The Lion (Panthera leo) is a mammal of the family Felidae. It is the largest natural living felid with the exception of the tiger. The male lion, easily recognized by his mane, may weigh up to 250 kg (550 lb). Females are much smaller, weighing up to 150 kg (330 lb). In the wild lions live for around 10–14 years, while in captivity they can live over 20.
Population and distribution
Distribution map of lions in Africa
In historic times, the habitat of lions spanned much of Eurasia, ranging from Eastern Europe to India, and all of Africa. Since the 2nd century AD, the lion has disappeared from Europe. Currently they are only numerous in Central Africa, but even there their number decreases.
The last remnant of the Asiatic Lion (subspecies Panthera leo persica), which in historical times ranged from Turkey to India through Iran (Persia), lives in the Gir Forest of northwestern India. About 300 lions live in a 1412 km² (558 square miles) sanctuary in the state of Gujarat.
Lions had become extinct in Greece, their last European outpost, by 100 AD. Other extinct subspecies are the Cape Lion, the European Cave Lion (subspecies Panthera leo spelaea) which coexisted with humans throughout the last Ice Age, and the American lion (subspecies Panthera leo atrox), a close relative of the European cave lion (not to be confused with the mountain lion or puma).
Behavior
Lions are predatory carnivores who live in family groups, called prides. The family consists of related females, their cubs of both sexes, and one or more males (often brothers) who mate with the adult females. Although it was once thought that females did most of the hunting in the pride, it is now known that males contribute much more to hunting than the amount for which they had been previously given credit. Whoever kills the prey, however, the male usually eats his full first with the rest of the pride staying at respectful distance.
Both males and females will defend the pride against outside intruders. Typically, males will not tolerate outside males, and females will not tolerate outside females. Males are expelled from the pride or leave on their own when they reach maturity.
When or if a new male (or a coalition) takes over a pride and ousts the previous master(s), the conquerors often kill any remaining cubs. This is explained by the evolutionary pressures — the females would not become fertile and receptive until the cubs grow up or die. The male lions reach maturity at about 3 years of age and are capable of taking over another pride being 4-5 years old. They begin to age (and thus weaken) at around 8. This leaves very short window for their children to be born and mature — the fathers have to "get on with it" as soon as they take over the pride.
Sometimes a female may defend her and the ousted male's children from the new master, but such actions are rarely successful.
A male lion and what's left of his warthog victim
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A male lion resting by his half-eaten meal
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A pair of lionesses with a young cub in Botswana
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A lioness followed by three cubs at dusk
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Attacks on humans
While a hungry lion will probably attack a human that passes near, some (usually male) lions seem to seek out human prey. Some of the more publicized cases include the Tsavo man-eaters and the Mfuwe man-eater. In both cases the hunters who slew the lions wrote books detailing the lions' "careers" as man-eaters. In folklore, man-eating lions are sometimes considered demons.
The Mfuwe and Tsavo incidents did bear some similarities. The lions in both the incidents were all larger than normal, lacked manes and seemed to suffer from tooth decay. Some have speculated that they might belong to an unclassified species of lion, or that they may have been sick and couldn't have easily caught prey.
There have also been recorded attacks on humans by lions in captivity.
Taxonomy
A male lion drinking water
Asiatic Lioness
Panthera leo persica, name MOTI, born in Helsinki Zoo (Finland) October 1994, arrived Bristol Zoo (England) January 1996. The
Gir Forest in
India is the natural home of the Asiatic lion but this animal was born in captivity.
The main differences between lion subspecies are location, size and mane appearance, however some of the forms listed below are debatable. Genetic evidence suggests that all modern lions derived from one common ancestor only ca. 55,000 years ago, therefore most sub-saharan lions could be considered a single subspecies. Notable exceptions would be the cape lion (P. l. melanochaita) and the kalahari lion (P. l. Verneyi).
- Panthera leo azandica - North East Congo lion.
- Panthera leo bleyenberghi - Katanga lion.
- Panthera leo europaea - European lion. Extinct around 100AD due to hunting and competition from feral dogs. From France to the Balkans.
- Panthera leo hollisteri - Congo lion.
- Panthera leo krugeri - South African lion.
- Panthera leo leo - Barbary lion; extinct in the wild. This was the largest of the lion subspecies, which ranged from Morocco to Egypt. The last wild Barbary lion was killed in Morocco in 1922 due to excessive hunting. Barbary lions were kept by Roman emperors, who ordered the capture of literally thousands of individuals to fight in the gladiator arenas. Roman notables, including Sulla, Pompey, and Julius Caesar, often ordered the mass slaughter of Barbary lions - up to 400 at a time. [1]
- Panthera leo massaicus - Massai lion.
- Panthera leo melanochaita - Cape lion; extinct in 1860.
- Panthera leo nubica - East African lion.
- Panthera leo persica - Asiatic lion. 200 currently exist in the Gir Forest of India. Once widespread from Turkey, across the Middle East, to India and Bangladesh, but large prides and daylight activity made it easier to poach than tigers or leopards.
- Panthera leo roosevelti - Abyssinian lion.
- Panthera leo senegalensis - West African lion, or Senegal lion.
- Panthera leo somaliensis - Somali lion.
- Panthera leo verneyi - Kalahari lion. Distinct behaviour and anatomy has been observed in this subspecies.
Variations
White lions
Although they are not often heard of due to their rarity, white lions do exist, in Timbavati, South Africa. There is a recessive gene in white lions that gives them their unusual color (also causing white tigers, many white tigers with this gene are bred for zoos and animal shows). A white lion has a disadvantage when it comes to hunting; their white color can give away their hiding place unlike with the regular lion that blends in with its surroundings.
Cross-breeding with tigers
Lions have also been known to breed with their close counterparts, tigers (most often Amur), while in captivity to create interesting mixes. These two new breeds are called ligers and tigons.
The liger originates from mating a male lion and a tigress. Because the lion passes on a growth-promoting gene, but the corresponding growth-inhibiting gene from the female lion is not present, ligers are larger than either parent. It is said that ligers do not stop growing and will grow constantly through their lifespan, until their bodies cannot sustain their huge size any longer, reaching up to half a tonne. Ligers share some qualities of both their parents (spots and stripes) however they enjoy swimming, a purely tiger activity, and they are always a sandy color like the lion. Male ligers are sterile, but female ligers are often fertile.
The tigon is a cross between the lioness and the male tiger. Because the male tiger does not pass on a growth-promoting gene and the lioness passes on a growth inhibiting gene, tigons are often relatively small, only weighing up to 150 kilograms (350 lb), which is about 20% smaller than lions. They can best be described as "housecat-like" in appearance, although with round ears. Like male ligers, male tigons are sterile, and they all have both spots and stripes, with yellow eyes. Tigons are not as common as ligers because they are not as visually impressive, thus they do not draw as much attention from audiences. Tigons are also more difficult to produce as male tigers are less attracted to lionesses because of their smaller size and are thought to have difficulty with recognizing lioness breeding cues.
Female ligers and female tigons are fertile and can produce offspring if mated to either a pure-bred lion or a pure-bred tiger.
Lions in culture
Lions are recurring symbols in the coat of arms of royalty and chivalry, particularly in the UK, where the lion is also a national symbol of the British people. Lions appear in the art of China, even though lions have never lived in China. No animal has been given more attention in art and literature. C.A.W. Guggisberg, in his book Simba, says the lion is referred to 130 times in the Bible, for example in 1 Peter 5:8 where the Devil is compared to a roaring lion: `seeking someone to devour`.
The lion can also be found in stone age cave paintings.
- Although lions are not native to China, the Chinese people believe that Lions protect humans from evil spirits, hence the Chinese New Year Lion Dance to scare away demons and ghosts.
- The lion is adopted by the British people as their mascot together with the bulldog. It is used like the FIFA World Cup mascot held in England in the year 1966 and the European Football Championships in 1996. The lion again became mascot with Goleo VI with your "pal" a talking football called "Pillie" for FIFA World Cup in 2006. A British group: The Lighting Seeds inspired in the England football team emblem written and interpreted the song Three Lions which is the team`s nickname.
The lion appears on the National Flag and the Coat of Arms of Sri Lanka. It is meant to symbolise the Sinhala people (Sinhalese Singha = Lion"). Local folklore tells of Prince Vijaya, the first of the Sinhalese kings, as being the son of Sinhabahu, who was fathered by a lion. See History of Sri Lanka
Lions in art
Lions have been widely used in sculpture and statuary to provide a sense of majesty and awe, especially on public buildings, including:
Lions in heraldry
The lion is a common image in heraldry, traditionally symbolizing bravery, valor and strength.
The following positions of heraldic lions are recognized: rampant, guardant, reguardant, passant, statant, couchant, salient, sejant, dormant.
Lions in literature
- The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe is the first book in the Narnia series written by C.S. Lewis. Aslan is the eponymous lion who features throughout the stories.
Lions in media
- In 1966, the live-action picture Born Free appeared, based on the true-life international bestselling book of the same title. It covered the story of the Kenyan lioness Elsa, and the efforts of Joy Adamson and her game-warden husband George in training the lioness for release back into the wild.
- Tezuka Osamu made an anime called The White Lion about a little lion cub who grew up without parents and had to rely on his friends to survive from hunters and other prey.
- In 1994, Disney made a hugely successful animated feature film called The Lion King, during the height of Disney animation in the mid 90's.
- In 2002, the Kenyan lioness Kamuniak captured international attention when she adopted oryx calves, an animal species that is normally preyed upon by lions. She fought off predators and lion prides who attempted to eat her charges. Kamuniak's story was captured in the Animal Planet episode, "Heart of a Lioness".
Lion as place names
See also
External links and references
