In the animal world, lions hunt. White Lion. Reproduction and lifespan
The lion is one of the large predatory animals belonging to the cat family. There are several varieties of this animal, in addition to this, many hybrids are known that appeared from mixing different species. Each of them differs in certain features, but also has similarities. The local population of the lands, which are located near the habitat of the beast, calls it a "wild cat" and considers it dangerous, trying to destroy it. Because of this, the population of these animals has been greatly reduced. Meanwhile, the lion is an interesting and peculiar animal, so you should know how it differs from other representatives of the fauna.
Leo - characteristics and description
When characterizing an animal such as a lion, you need to provide a description of it. Different species are slightly different from each other, but they have a lot in common.
The animal belongs to the cat family, therefore, in its appearance it is similar to domestic cats, only much larger than them. It is one of the largest representatives of this family, second only to the tiger.
The body of the beast is flexible and mobile, they have well-developed muscles of the front paws and neck. On the paws there are claws, the length of which reaches 7 cm. Its head is large, with an elongated muzzle and strong jaws. His fangs are long (about 8 cm), the number of teeth is 30 pcs. These features give the lion the ability to prey on large herbivores. The tongue is covered with tubercles, thanks to which the lion can clean its fur from dirt and eliminate insects.
On the muzzle there are whiskers, at the base of which there are small dark spots. These spots form a pattern that is unique to each animal. The cubs are born spotted, but as they grow older, the spots disappear from their body, and the coat color becomes uniform - brown or sandy. At the tip of the tail of the beast is a black tassel.
The main feature of this animal species is sexual dimorphism. The male lion and the lioness have significant differences. For example, it is impossible to say how much a lion weighs on average without knowing the sex of a particular individual. Males significantly outnumber females in size and weight. In addition, their head is decorated with a mane, which begins to grow in lion cubs from the age of 6 months. The length of the pile and the density of the mane depend on the age and characteristics of genetics.
How much does a lion weigh?
How much an adult lion weighs on average depends on the characteristics of his life. But gender has a particular effect on this indicator. Differences in the main parameters are shown in the table.
Despite its massiveness, this predator has the smallest heart size. Therefore, the lion cannot be called hardy. It is capable of reaching speeds of up to 80 km / h, but only covers short distances.
Features of life and habitat
Giving a description of any animal, you need to consider not only its appearance. It is also worth finding out how long a lion lives and where he lives.
There are few places where such an animal as a lion lives. In recent years, its distribution area has significantly decreased. Previously, this beast was found not only in Africa and India, as it is now, but also in Iran, Russia, southern Europe and the Middle East. But a significant part of the population was exterminated, and the conditions in many areas became unsuitable for their life. Therefore, of all the places where these animals could be seen before, now the lion lives only in the southern part of the African continent (beyond the Sahara desert) and in the Indian state of Gujarat. The most suitable for them are savannas, forests or shrubs.
Individuals unite in small flocks - prides. The pride consists of 5 or 6 females, between which there is a family relationship, their cubs and a male. In some prides, there may be two males if they are brothers. Young males, having reached maturity, leave the pride (they are expelled). They have the opportunity to join another pride or create their own. Some of them lead a solitary life.
How much a lioness or male lion weighs depends on the characteristics of their diet. Since the lion is a predator, he leads a hunting lifestyle, eating rather large animals. They may be:
In rare cases, the animal may attack a hippopotamus or a small elephant. Also, sick cheetahs, hyenas and leopards can become its prey.
Lionesses excel in hunting. They are distinguished by dexterity and agility. Hunting is more difficult for males due to their large size and heavy mane. However, the male needs more food. An adult lion eats about 7 kg of meat per day, while 5 kg is enough for a female. These animals prefer to hunt at night, sneaking up to the victim at the maximum distance.
Reproduction in lions is not tied to the season, but it begins with the achievement of maturity. Males are considered sexually mature at the age of 6 years and females at the age of 4 years.
Males tend to fight for females. Sometimes these fights are so brutal that the competitor dies.
The duration of pregnancy in these animals is 110 days. Shortly before giving birth, the lioness leaves the pride and hides. She can give birth to 1-4 cubs, whose weight is slightly less than 2 kg. Lion cubs are born blind, and they open their eyes only 7 days after birth. For safety reasons, the mother changes her place of residence several times, carrying her children with her. She hunts and feeds the babies with milk. Training of cubs to hunt begins at the age of 1.5 months, at the same time the whole family joins the pride. With the onset of hunting, lion cubs gradually eat meat, although the period of milk feeding lasts about six months.
Lion life span
One of the important aspects of describing these animals is the question of how long a lion lives. To answer it, you need to take into account a lot of circumstances. How long a lion lives depends on features such as:
- Habitat. How better conditions life, the longer its duration.
- Closeness to people. In close proximity to humans, the risk of exterminating these animals and shortening their lives increases.
- Features of life. Lonely individuals live less than those that belong to the pride.
- Floor. The life expectancy of females is on average longer than that of males, since they have less risk of dying during fights with other lions.
All these nuances affect how long a lion lives. Therefore, their life expectancy varies greatly. On average, it is 8-10 years. Some individuals live up to 14 years.
How long a lion lives is greatly influenced by the behavior of people. It has a much greater impact than other factors. If people do not seek to destroy these animals, then the duration of their life increases. Better results can be achieved if living conditions suitable for animals are organized, for example, reserves or zoos. In this case, the lions can live 20 or even 25 years, as they are monitored by veterinarians.
types of lions
How long a lion lives also depends on the variety of this animal. There are several subspecies of the lion, each of which differs in certain features, habitat, living conditions and its duration. Some subspecies of this animal have already become extinct, others are at the stage of extinction. There are also several hybrid varieties that have appeared as a result of crossing with tigers, leopards or jaguars.
Scientists distinguish 8 main subspecies, one of which is the Asiatic lion. Another name for the subspecies is the Persian lion (or Indian). The Asian lion lives in the southern part of Eurasia. Its main habitat is the Gir Reserve in the Indian state of Gujarat. The Asian lion is considered an endangered species. This subspecies is characterized by squat. Males are slightly over a meter tall. Due to the sleek and sparse mane, the Asiatic lion does not seem as large as the representatives of the African subspecies. The body weight of males is from 160 to 190 kg, lionesses usually weigh 90-120 kg. Body length - 2 - 2.5 m. The largest Asian lion has a length of 2.92 m.
The remaining species are found in Africa, which is why they can all be attributed to the African lion subspecies. They are characterized by certain common features, for example, sexual dimorphism, coat color, features of life and reproduction, and so on. Differences can be in size and body weight.
- Barbary. This subspecies is the largest. Previously, he settled throughout the African continent, but is now completely exterminated. Male individuals had a mass of up to 270 kg, females - up to 170. At present, descendants of these animals can be seen in zoos and reserves, but they cannot be called purebred.
- Senegalese. This is also an African lion that lives in the west of the continent. The size of these animals is small, the color of the coat is light. Males have almost no mane, or it is very short. You can meet representatives of this subspecies in Nigeria, Guinea and Senegal. Senegal lions are considered endangered.
- Northern Congolese. It has all the external features that distinguish the African lion. Its habitat is the savannas in the northeast of the Congo. The population of these animals is gradually decreasing.
- Masai. Otherwise it is called East African. It differs from other varieties long paws. Their mane is directed backwards. The body length of the male is 2.5-3 m, females - 2.3-2.6 m. These animals inhabit Uganda, Zambia and Mozambique. A large number of Masai lions are kept in the Masai Mara reserve in Kenya.
- Katangese. This species is on the verge of extinction. The bulk of it lives in southwestern Africa (Zimbabwe, Angola). In length, adult males reach 3.1 m, females - 2.65 m.
- Transvaal. These are lions with black manes. Among the representatives of this subspecies there are individuals on the skin and wool of which there are no melanocytes. Because of this they have White wool and pink skin. A lion in length can be from 2.6 to 3.2 m, a lioness - 2.35-2.65 m. Transvaal lions live in southern Africa (Kalahari desert). They are also kept in the Kruger National Park.
- Cape. This species of animals was destroyed in the 19th century. They lived at the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa). A feature of the species was the black tips of the ears and the presence of a mane on the stomach and shoulders.
This classification is not the only one. There are others to which other subspecies can be added by scientists.
Notable is such a variety of these animals as a mountain lion. It is not very similar to its other relatives, it differs in size and habitat. The mountain lion is common in America. Its body length ranges from 1 to 1.8 m, weight can reach 105 kg. This is significantly less than that of other subspecies. Also, the mountain lion is devoid of a mane. Coloration can vary from gray-brown to brown-yellow. Cougar cubs are born with dark spots and stripes on the body, but after 9 months of life, these marks begin to fade. The mountain lion prefers to live alone. The exception is the mating season and the time of rearing the cubs.
Another subspecies that might be of interest is cave lion. It is included in some classifications, despite the fact that the cave lion is an extinct species, and it became extinct several millennia ago. During their lifetime, these animals inhabited Siberia and Europe. The cave lion is one of the progenitors modern lions. In size, the cave lion surpassed its descendants. According to the images of these animals, they did not have a mane, or it was very small. It is not known exactly, but there is an assumption that this subspecies of animals also united in prides.
Despite the name, the cave lion has never lived in caves. They were chosen by old and sick individuals shortly before death, which is why the largest number of remains of these animals were found there. Therefore, the cave lion was so named. The cave lion hunted deer and bears. This scientists explain the extinction of these animals. With the onset of warming, the number of bears and deer decreased, and the cave lion was not adapted to other diets.
Black and white lions
The lion is such an animal that you can notice a lot of interesting features. One feature concerns coloring. Some classifications mention varieties such as the white lion and the black lion. But this is wrong. If a lion with a dark or black mane is a real subspecies, then animals with a white or black color are considered an anomaly.
At the same time, it cannot be said that a lion with an exotic color is a fiction. There is a genetic mutation called leucism. Because of her, the fur of animals acquires White color. This is due to a lack of melanocytes. The result is the appearance of such an animal as the white lion. It can be assumed that this is an albino lion, but the color of his eyes, which can be either blue or golden, says otherwise.
White Lion almost does not differ in its characteristics from other representatives of the species. It is somewhat larger than the others. Their weight can reach 310 kg, and the body length of the male exceeds 3 m. The females of such animals are slightly smaller - 2.7 m. A lion with white hair changes color slightly during life, and by old age its body acquires an ivory shade.
The black lion, according to many scientists, does not exist in nature. They consider the photos and videos of such animals found on the network to be the result of shooting in dark time days or special processing. Some suggest that in contrast to albinism, there is a phenomenon of melanism, in which there is too much pigment in the coat of animals. This is possible in jaguars and leopards. As a result of crossing, a lion with a dark shade of wool can be born, but this is just an accident, so there is no need to single out such animals as a separate subspecies.
The African lion is a member of the cat family. This is one of the most powerful predators.
In terms of size and body weight, it is second only to the tiger. The African lion lives in African countries located south of the desert Sahara. Normally exists only in protected areas, in other places it is actively destroyed local population, whose number is constantly increasing.
Now in Africa there are up to 50,000 representatives of this species. Also, about 2,000 African lions live in captivity: in zoos and circuses. The situation with the population of these predators causes serious concern.
Appearance
Representatives of this species of cats have external differences by gender. Males are much larger than females. Also, males have long lush manes, the length of which is about 40 cm. The hair of lions grows on the head, neck and chest and forms separate manes that join into one. There is a hair brush on the tail, the length of which is not more than 5 cm. Inside it has a small curved bone.
Lions have a yellow-gray color, however, some individuals may differ in shade. The color of the mane is the same as the color of the skin, the hairline of the shoulders is very dark, sometimes black. The coat on the belly and back is short. Lionesses do not have manes, which makes them more resistant to heat. Also because of this, they easily pass through any dense thickets. Probably, this is the reason why lionesses are engaged in hunting, and lions protect the territory.
The lion is truly the king of the savannah. These animals are large. Average weight the male is 180 kg, and the maximum is 250 kg. Females weigh an average of 125 kg, with a maximum of 180 kg. Lions living in southern Africa larger than representatives Eastern and western regions. At the withers, males reach a height of 120 cm, females - 90 cm, extremely rarely - 100 cm. The body of a male reaches 2.5 meters in length, females - 1.8 meters. Tail length ranges from 70 cm to 1 meter. Maximum weight, which was recorded - 370 kg, the maximum length was 3.6 meters.
Pride, reproduction, lifespan
This predator is the most socially organized of all members of the cat family. African lions live in large groups, the so-called prides. All pride females try to get pregnant at the same time, because. it is easier to feed and look after cubs born at the same time. The duration of pregnancy is 110 days. Lionesses give birth in secluded places outside the pride: in caves, thickets of bushes.
Up to 4 cubs weighing up to 2 kg, helpless and blind, are born. Babies open their eyes 10 days after birth, after another 10 days they begin to walk. The female constantly goes to hunt, leaving the cubs alone. To prevent other predators from finding babies by smell, lionesses change their den every few days.
Females return to prides when the cubs are already 1.5-2 months old. The cubs are fed with milk for six months. Lionesses have different attitudes towards offspring: they love males less. When the father of the offspring dies, another lion kills his male cubs. At the same time, the lioness may not react to this in any way, but she will protect the female cubs to the end and will not allow anyone to touch them.
Listen to the voice of the African lion
When the males are 2-3 years old, they are expelled from the pack and they lead a solitary lifestyle. Then they either create their own group or join an existing one. Some males live all their lives alone or in pairs. Lionesses stay with their mothers forever. All lionesses of the group are relatives, there are no other females in the flocks. Young lions are very high level mortality, up to 2 years out of 100 lions, only 20 will survive.
Males become sexually mature at 3 years of age. The first birth in females takes place at 4 years. The heyday of the powers of a predator from 4 to 10 years. Then the lions gradually age. Life span in wild nature- up to 15 years, in captivity - up to 20-22 years.
Food and hunting
The usual habitat for African lions is the savanna, where many ungulates live with them. They form the basis of the diet of these predators. Females hunt, and males at this time protect the territory from attacks by lions from other prides. Such collisions are not uncommon, and one of the lions often dies as a result.
They hunt mostly at dusk. early morning and late in the evening, although sometimes lionesses go hunting during the day. Small prey is eaten on the spot, large prey is taken to a group and there they all eat it with the whole flock.
Healthy and strong animals and the sick and wounded receive food on equal terms. Lions do not start hunting until they have eaten past prey. At this time, they do not attack potential victims, even if they are nearby.
Most of the time, these felines are resting.
Enemies
These giant cats often feud with, because these animals have the same diet of food. Predators often take the prey of hyenas, which are forced to sit and wait for the lions to satisfy their hunger. If the hyenas are a flock, and the number of lionesses is small, then the hyenas select prey. In these confrontations, strength always wins. The same thing happens in the confrontations between lions and cheetahs and leopards.
Ecology
Main:
Known for being some of the only truly social cats, lions prefer to lead a nomadic lifestyle and live in groups called prides, and leadership in these groups is mainly held by females.
Lions have golden fur, while males have a shaggy mane that varies in color from light to reddish or even black. Coat color depends on the lion's age, genetics and hormone levels.
Adult male lions can reach a length of up to 3 meters and usually weigh between 150 and 250 kilograms, while females are slightly smaller in size - a maximum of 2.7 meters in length and weigh about 120-180 kilograms. The tail of a lion can reach a length of 0.6-1 meter. Asiatic lions are slightly smaller than their African relatives.
The body of a lion is ideally suited for hunting: they are strong and fit, have powerful front legs and jaws that help them kill prey.
Lions mainly feed on large animals, such as zebras and wildebeests. They do not disdain to take prey from other predators - hyenas and leopards. The most important hunters of the pride are females.
Lionesses mate every 2 years and can give birth to 1 to 6 cubs at once 3.5 months after conception. Approximately 60 to 70 percent of lion cubs die in their first year of life. Pride females help each other care for their offspring.
In the wild, male lions live an average of 12 years, and females 15 years. In the zoo, lions can live longer - more than 20 years.
Up to 40 lions can live in a pride, including adult females, juvenile lions (2-4 years old) and 1-2 adult males. Females remain in their mother's pride for life unless food shortages cause the pride to split. Males are driven out of the pride when they get old in order to compete with younger rivals.
Males travel first with the whole group, which consists of his relatives, and then look for another pride to join. Usually males live in one pride for 2-3 years.
Males and females mark their territories with urine, and also drive away rivals with their menacing roar.
Where do they live?
Once upon a time, lions lived throughout Europe, Africa and North America, but today they can be found mainly in Africa - from the southern edge of the Sahara desert to the northern part of South Africa. The habitat is savannas.
A small population of lions - about 300 individuals - lives in the Gir forest in western India.
Guard status: the African lion is vulnerable, the Asiatic lion is critically endangered
Lion populations are suffering from human prey and territory taking, and lions are threatened by diseases that can be transmitted from domestic dogs in neighboring villages.
Over the past 2 decades, the lion population in Africa has halved by different reasons, including the punitive measures of farmers: lions encroach on livestock.
Human intervention in the habitat of Asiatic lions has endangered their population in the Gir forest.
The closest relatives of lions are tigers, with which lions can interbreed in captivity. As a result, hybrids of these cats are born - a liger and a tiger.
Lions are the second largest cat in terms of size (after tigers).
The menacing roar of a lion can be heard for 8 kilometers in the savannah.
The lion's mane helps the lion defend itself during fights.
Lions can reach speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour, chasing prey, although they can cover short distances. The lion's jump reaches 11 meters.
Asiatic lions have a more sparse mane than African relatives, and on their stomach they have a characteristic skin fold. The ears of African lions are hidden in the mane, while those of Asiatic lions stick out of the mane.
During the mating season, lions may mate 20-40 times a day.
a lion (lat. Panthera Leo)- carnivorous mammal of the panther family (lat. Panthera), the largest after tigers, representative of the subfamily big cats (lat. Pantherinae) and a member of the cat family (lat. Felidae).
Description
Lions are large cats with short, yellowish-brown fur and long tails with a black tassel at the end. They are sexually dimorphic and the males are the only ones with a mane. A three-year-old male grows a mane, which has a color from black to light brown. Manes tend to be thicker in lions that live in open areas. Adult males weigh about 189 kg; record holder in big weight became a male, reaching 272 kilograms. Females weigh an average of 126 kg. The average height at the withers is 1.2 meters for males and 1.1 meters for females. The body length ranges from 2.4-3.3 m, and the tail length is 0.6-1.0 m. The longest recorded male lion was 3.3 meters.
Cubs up to 3 months old have brown spots on grayish coats. These spots can remain throughout the life of a lion, especially representatives East Africa. Albinism may occur in some populations, but there are no published records to support melanism (black fur) in lions. Adults have 30 teeth, adult females have 4 mammary glands.
Asiatic lions (P. l. persica) are much smaller than African lions and have a less dense mane. Their knees, tail tufts and longitudinal folds of skin on the abdomen are larger than those of African lions. Even though Asiatic lions and African lions have genetic differences, they are no more significant than the genetic differences between human races.
area
African lions (Panthera Leo) distributed south of the Sahara desert, except for deserts and rainforest. The lions were once destroyed in South Africa, but now they can be found in the Kruger and Kalahari-Gemsbok National Parks, and possibly in some other protected areas. Previously, lions lived in southwest Asia and northern Africa.
Asian lions (P. l. persica) belong to the one remaining subspecies in this region. After migration from Greece to central India, Asiatic lions persist in the Gir Forest and northwest India.
African lions live in the plains or savannas, where a large number of food base (mainly ungulates) and the ability to hide in a safe shelter. In these optimal habitats, lions are the second most common large carnivore after the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta). Lions can live in wider ranges, with the exception of deserts. These predators are also adapted to life in forest, shrub, mountain and semi-desert areas. Lions can be found on high altitudes. There is a population of lions living in the mountains of Ethiopia at an altitude of 4240 meters.
Asiatic lions live in tree-shrub and teak vegetation of the small Gir forest, India.
reproduction
Lions breed throughout the year and tend to be polygamous. It is believed that lions copulate 3,000 times for each cub. One in five estrus results in pregnancy, and lions mate about 2.2 times per hour during the four-day estrus period. The main male of the pride has priority to mating with any female. Fight for females between males is usually absent.
Males are noticeably larger and showier, so they control the reproduction of many females during their pride management. They form coalitions with other males to increase their chances of absorbing another pride. Fierce competition among males and the social structure of the pride leads to the killing of cubs of both sexes. The males who dominate the pride usually rule for about 2 years, until another representative, younger and stronger, overthrows his predecessor. Absorption of prides through fighting and often with violence leads to serious injury and even death of the loser.
The reproductive advantage of the dominant male is expressed in the killing of small cubs, defeated males. A lioness who has lost her cubs leaves the pride for 2-3 weeks, and then returns during estrus. Optimal period between births is considered 2 years. Thus, by getting rid of all the little cubs at the moment of swallowing up the pride, males provide themselves with the opportunity to become fathers and take possession of females that were previously inaccessible to them. Females who strongly defend their offspring during attacks can lose their lives.
Females breed throughout the year, but peak during the rainy season. As a rule, lion cubs are born every 2 years. However, if the offspring of the female dies (mainly with the participation of a lion), then her estrus occurs earlier, respectively, and less time passes between pregnancies. Females are able to breed at the age of 4 years, and males - 5 years. A lioness gives birth to 1 to 6 cubs after a 3.5-month pregnancy. There is an interval between pregnancies equal to about 20-30 months. Newborn kittens weigh from 1 to 2 kg. The eyes usually open on the 11th day, begin to walk after 15 days, and are able to run by the age of one month. The lioness guards her cubs for 8 weeks. Lion cubs stop feeding on milk at the age of 7-10 months, but they are very dependent on adults in the pride, at least until they reach the age of 16 months.
| Breeding interval | breeding season | Number of babies born at one time |
| Females usually have cubs every 2 years. However, if the cubs die (due to male invasion), then the female comes into heat earlier, and accordingly, she becomes pregnant more often. | Reproduction occurs throughout the year, but the greatest activity occurs during the rainy season. | 1 to 6 |
| Average offspring | Average duration of pregnancy | Age at weaning babies from mother's milk |
| 3 | 3.5 months (109 days) | 7-10 months |
| Lion cubs gaining independence | Average age of reproductive maturity in females | Average age of reproductive maturity in males |
| Not earlier than 16 months | 4 years | 5 years |
Females are mainly engaged in raising offspring. They not only feed their cubs, but also take care of the young of their relatives from the pride, if the cubs have a slight age difference. Mortality among kittens is low, this is due to the synchronous feeding of young animals from one pride with milk. If at the same time cubs are born to several lionesses, the entire pride participates in their upbringing. Cubs are often left alone for more than one day at 5-7 months of age. They are most vulnerable during this period and may be attacked by predators (often hyenas). Hungry mothers often abandon weak lion cubs who are not able to keep up with the entire pride. Although males do not care for offspring, they play important role in protecting the young from competing males. As long as the male maintains control of the pride, preventing another male from taking over, the risk of infanticide by rivals is reduced.
Lifespan
Females tend to live longer than males (about 15-16 years). Lions are at the peak of their strength between the ages of 5 and 9, after reaching the age of 10 only a small part of the males survive. Some males live up to 16 years in the wild. In the Serengeti, females reach the age of 18 years. In captivity, lions live for about 13 years. Most old lion lived 30 years.
Adults are not threatened by predators, but are vulnerable to humans, starvation, and attacks from other lions. Infanticide is an important factor in the increase in mortality among lion cubs.
Female Asiatic lions live an average of 17-18 years, with a maximum of 21. Male Asiatic lions usually reach the age of 16 years. The mortality rate for adult Asiatic lions is less than 10%. In the Gir forest, about 33% of cubs die within the first year of life.
Behavior
Prides are the main social structure lion society. Members can come and go from these groups. The number of lions varies from 2 to 40 individuals. In the Kruger and Serengeti National Parks, prides consist of an average of 13 lions. The average composition of these prides is 1.7 adult males, 4.5 adult females, 3.8 juveniles, and 2.8 cubs.
Pride resident males are immigrants who have gained control of a pride through forcible capture. In order to successfully master the family, males form coalitions, usually from brothers. Boys leave their native pride when their fathers (or new leaders) begin to consider them as competitors, usually at 2.5 years old. These males are nomadic for two to three years and then form a coalition and look for a pride to conquer. Coalitions of 2 males tend to rule the pride for no more than 2.5 years, this time is enough for the birth of one generation of cubs. Coalitions of 3-4 males usually run the pride for more than 3 years. Coalitions of more than 4 males are very rare, as large coalitions are difficult to stick together.
Prides consist of females who are related to each other. They remain to live in their mother's territory. Females do not compete with each other and do not express dominant behavior, as is observed in some matriarchal social systems. Females with family ties often synchronously reproduce offspring, and then cross-feed each other's cubs with milk. Such mutually beneficial behavior prevents the manifestation of dominance. Unlike females, males are very aggressive towards other members of the pride, especially during food intake. The lack of dominant behavior among females may have made the process of raising offspring easier, since females cannot influence the reproduction of other female members of the pride. On the other hand, the mutualistic benefits of co-parenting have reduced the propensity to form a hierarchy in the pride.
Lions have the ability to inflict wounds and even kill other lions during an encounter in a fight. Fighting a male of the same age and gender not only endangers the life of one individual, but there is also the possibility of injuring an important member of the team, who can later protect the pride from danger.
The behavior of lions from the Serengeti National Park, located in Tanzania, has been continuously studied since 1966. Studies have shown that lions form groups for a variety of reasons, not taking into account the increase in efficiency during hunting. Because lions live in more habitable places than other big cats, they need to cooperate with their own kind to protect their territories from being swallowed by other lions. In addition, lionesses synchronously reproduce offspring and form fairly stable groups that protect lion cubs from infanticide. Finally, smaller prides tend to be more outgoing than other large prides in order to defend their territories as a large group.
The territories where lions live have a wide variety of mammals (prey), in open areas there are about 12 lions per 100 square kilometers. In areas with sufficient prey, lions sleep about twenty hours a day. They become most active at the end of the day. Hunting often falls at night and early in the morning.
Lions have a greeting ritual: they rub their head and tail along the air ring against each other, while making a sound similar to a groan.
Communication and perception
Lions have a cognitive ability to recognize people and interact with other lions which helps them survive. They use visual cues in these connections. For example, the mane is believed to act as a copulation signal and indicate the suitability of the male. (The growth rate of the mane is mainly controlled by testosterone.)
Males regularly mark their territory by spraying urine over vegetation and wiping trees with their sides. Females rarely do this. This behavior in lions begins after two years. This type of marking is chemical and visual.
Males begin to growl after a year, and females a little later. The roar of the male is louder and deeper than the females. Lions can roar at any moment, but usually they do it standing or crouching a little. The roar serves to protect the territory, communicate with other members of the pride, and also as a demonstration of aggression towards enemies. Lions also roar in unison, perhaps a form of social bonding.
Finally, lions use tactile communication. Males show physical aggression during the pride management period. During the greeting of the members of the pride, the bodies of two individuals come into contact. A physical bond exists between a lactating female and her offspring.
Food
Lions are predatory animals. As a rule, they hunt in groups, but there are also loners. Often, lions dump prey larger than themselves. Males are more difficult to disguise due to their pronounced physique than females, so in the pride, females do most of the capture of prey. Males during feeding behave more aggressively than females, although, most likely, they did not kill the victim.
African lions feed on the most common large ungulates (Thomson's gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii), zebra (Equus burchellii), impala (Aepyceros melampus) and wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus)). Individual prides tend to have a preference for certain animals, such as the buffalo. (Syncerus caffer) and . Lions that are unable to capture large prey may temporarily feed on birds, rodents, ostrich eggs, fish, amphibians, and reptiles. Lions can also eat up after hyenas and vultures.
In the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, local lions feed on 7 species of animals: zebras (Equus burchellii), wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), Thomson gazelles (Eudorcas thomsonii), buffaloes (Syncerus caffer), warthogs (Phacochoerus aethiopicus), cow antelope (Alcelaphus buselaphus) and swamp antelopes (Damaliscus lunatus).
Hunting becomes more effective during group attacks. Studies in the Serengeti have shown that an individual succeeds in hunting about 17% of cases, while the group - 30%.
Threats
Adult lions have no threats among animals, but are persecuted by humans. Lions often kill and compete with other predators - leopards (Panthera pardus) and . spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) have been known to kill lion cubs, as well as young, weak, or sick individuals.
Abandoned for some time, cubs can become victims of others. large predators. However, infanticide is the main threat to little lions.
Poaching is the main threat to lions. These animals are attacked from firearms and also fall into wire traps. Since lions can feed on carrion, they are particularly vulnerable to deliberately poisoned carcasses. In some national parks in Africa, poachers hunt. An estimated 20,000 lions were killed by poachers in the 1960s. national park Serengeti. Trophy hunting is allowed at 6 African countries.
Role in the ecosystem
Lions are the main predators in their territory. It is not yet clear how lions regulate the populations of their prey. Some studies have shown that the distribution of potential prey over a certain area plays a more significant role in regulating animal populations than in the diet of lions.
Economic importance for humans
positive
Lions have a glamorous look and are well known all over the world. The lion is the symbol of England and is considered one of the most highly valued animal species that provides economic benefits to ecotourism in Africa. These cats are the subject of many documentary and research papers.
negative
People are afraid of lion attacks both on themselves and on their livestock. In most cases, this is not a big problem. Historically, lions coexisted with the Maasai tribes and their cows in eastern Africa. When food supply is plentiful, lions usually do not attack livestock. In addition, if a lion sees a walking person, as a rule, he changes his direction in the opposite direction.
Exist famous cases lion attacks on humans. For example, man-eating lions from Tsavo killed 135 construction workers. These events became the basis for the historical adventure film The Ghost and the Darkness by Stephen Hopkins. As lions lose their habitats, they are more likely to enter settlements thus creating new conflicts and potential attacks on people.
Feline immunodeficiency virus is common in lions (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, FIV) which is similar to HIV. In Tanzania's Serengeti and Ngorongoro National Parks, as well as in the Kruger National Park, South Africa, 92% of the lions tested were found to be infected. This disease does not adversely affect the health of animals, but for domestic cats it can be fatal.
conservation status
barbary lion (Panthera leo leo) and cape lion (Panthera leo melanochaita) are two extinct subspecies of the African lion. The African lion population has declined significantly in West Africa and other African countries. If there are no corridors between the reserves, it will most likely become a problem.
Asian lions (Panthera leo persica) limited to one population, live in the Girsky forest reserve India. The population size is about 200 mature individuals. This subspecies is listed as endangered. The Asiatic lion population is in dire need of restoration. Threats to the inhabitants of the Gir Forest come from humans and livestock in close proximity, as well as from habitat degradation.
Some small populations of lions are in need of genetic control for continued survival and conservation of the species. For example, in the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi park in Natal, there are 120 individuals that have been bred from just three lions since 1960. In 2001, scientists used methods artificial insemination to rejuvenate the gene pool of these South African lions. This process is quite complex and energy intensive. Inbred populations could also be introduced into entire prides in a given area (whereby conflict between existing and introduced lions would be minimized).
Subspecies
Asian lion
Asian lion (Pantheraleopersica), also known as the Indian lion or Persian lion, is the only subspecies in India, in the state of Gujarat. This subspecies is listed in the IUCN Red List due to its insignificant population. The number of lions in the Gir forest is steadily growing. The number of individuals has more than doubled, from a low of 180 in 1974 to 411 as of April 2010. Of these: 97 adult males, 162 adult females, 75 adolescents and 77 cubs.
For the first time, the Asiatic lion was described by the Austrian zoologist Johann N. Meyer in the trinomen Felis leo persicus. The Asiatic lion is one of the five large cat species, such as Bengal tiger, Indian Leopard, Snow Leopard and clouded leopard, found in India. Previously, the Asiatic lion lived on the territory of Persia, Israel, Mesopotamia, Baluchistan, from Sindh in the west and to Bengal in the east, from Rampur and Rohilkhand in the north to Nerbuddha in the south. It differs from the African lion in having less swollen auditory capsules, a larger tassel at the end of the tail, and a less developed mane.
The most striking external difference is the longitudinal fold on the abdomen. Asiatic lions are smaller than African lions. Adult males weigh from 160 to 190 kg, and females - 110-120 kg. The height at the withers is about 110 centimeters. The length of the body of an Asiatic lion, including the tail, is on average 2.92 m. The mane of males grows on the top of the head, so their ears are always visible. In small numbers, the mane is seen on the cheeks and neck, where it is only 10 cm long. About half of the Asiatic lions from the Gir Forest have a divided infraorbital foramen, while African lions have only one on either side. The sagittal crest of Asiatic lions is more developed than that of African lions. The length of the skull in males varies from 330 to 340 mm, in females from 292 to 302 mm. Compared to African population lions, the Asiatic lion has fewer genetic variations.
barbary lion
barbary lion (Panthera leo leo), sometimes referred to as the Atlas lion, was part of the African lion population, thought to have been extinct in the wild since the mid-20th century. The last wild Barbary lions are believed to have died or been killed in the 1950s and early 1960s. The last video recordings with the participation of the Barbarian lion date back to 1942. Filming took place in the west of the Maghreb, near the Tizi n "Tichka" pass.
The Barbary lion was first described by the Austrian zoologist Johann Nepomuk Meyer in the trinomen Felis leo barbaricus, based on typical representative barbary subspecies.
The Barbary lion has long been considered one of the largest representatives of lions. Museum specimens of the male Barbary lion are described as having dark and long-haired manes that extended over the shoulders and abdomen. The length of the body of the male ranged from 2.35-2.8 m, and the females - about 2.5 m. In the 19th century, a hunter described a large male, allegedly reaching a length of 3.25 meters, including a 75-centimeter tail. In some historical sources, the weight of wild males was indicated 270-300 kg. But the accuracy of these measurements can be questioned, and the sample size of captive Barbary lions is too small to conclude that they were the largest subspecies of lions.
Before it was possible to study the genetic diversity of the lion population, the distinctive color and size of the mane was considered a good reason to distinguish these big cats into a separate subspecies. The results of long-term studies of lions in the Serengeti National Park show that various factors, such as environmental temperature, nutrition and testosterone levels, have a direct effect on the color of a lion and the size of its mane.
Barbary lions can have long-haired manes due to the ambient temperature in the Atlas Mountains, which is much lower than in other African regions, especially during winter. Thus, the length and density of the mane is not considered as appropriate evidence that the lion belongs to its ancestors. The results of a mitochondrial DNA study published in 2006 contributed to the identification of unique Barbary lion haplotypes found in museum specimens believed to be descended from Barbary lions. The presence of this haplotype is considered a reliable molecular marker for identifying Barbary lions that have survived in captivity.
Lions from western and central Africa are believed to be smaller than lions from southern Africa. There are also suggestions that they have smaller manes, live in small groups, and have a distinctively shaped skull. In where West African lions live, almost all males do not have manes or they are mild.
The West African lion is distributed in western Africa, south of the Sahara, from Senegal to the Central African Republic in the east.
Lions are rare in western Africa and therefore may be endangered. In 2004, the population of West African lions numbered 450-1300 individuals. In addition, about 550-1550 lions were in Central Africa. In both regions, the area historically occupied by lions decreased by 15% in 2004.
A recent study that took place between 2006 and 2012 found that lion numbers have declined even more in West Africa. Only about 400 individuals remained in the territory between Senegal and Nigeria.
Congo lion, or Northeast Congo lion, or North Congo lion (Panthera leo azandica), also known as the Ugandan lion, has been proposed as a subspecies from northeastern Belgian Congo and western Uganda.
In 1924, the American zoologist Joel Azaf Allen introduced the trinomen Leo leo azandicus, in which he described a specimen of a male lion, as a typical representative of the subspecies, which was kept in the American Museum of Natural History. This male was killed in 1912 by museum staff as part of a zoological collection that consisted of 588 carnivores. Allen admits a close relationship with the Massai lion (Panthera leo nubica), which is expressed in the similarity of the cranial and dental characteristics, but noted with the statement that his typical specimen differed in coat color.
Congolese lions were previously discovered in the northeast Democratic Republic Congo, in the western part of Uganda, in the southeast of the Central African Republic, including in some regions of South Sudan. Previously, they lived in Rwanda. They are the largest apex predators of the savannas, where lions hunt and feed on zebras and antelopes. They can also be found in meadows and forests.
Like other African lions, the population of the Congolese subspecies is currently rapidly declining, due to habitat loss and a decrease in the number of potential prey.
Northeast Congolese lions live in various national parks in the Belgian Congo, Uganda, such as Kabarega, Virunga and national park Queen Elizabeth. They used to live in the national parks of Rwanda until they died from poison during the genocide and after it.
Masai lion or East African lion (Panthera leo nubica), a subspecies of lions that lives in eastern Africa. A typical pattern is described as "Nubian". This subspecies includes the previously recognized subspecies " massaica", which originally lived in the territory of Tanganyika, in East Africa.
Oscar Rudolf Neumann first described the Massai lion as less round-faced, with longer legs and less flexible backs than the other subspecies. Males have moderate tufts of hair at the knee joints, and their manes look like they are combed back.
Male East African lions, as a rule, have a body length with a tail of 2.5-3.0 m. Lionesses are usually smaller, only 2.3-2.6 m. The weight of males is 145-205 kg, and females - 100-165 kg. Lions, regardless of gender, have a height at the withers of 0.9-1.10 m.
Male Masai lions have a wide range of mane types. Mane growth directly depends on age: older males have wider manes than younger males; manes grow until they reach the age of 4-5 years, then the lions reach sexual maturity. Males that live at altitudes above 800 meters have more massive manes than individuals living in the warm and humid lowlands of eastern and northern Kenya. Such lions with more sparse manes or no manes at all.
This subspecies is relatively common and well protected in large protected areas such as the Serengeti Mara ecosystem.
Southwestern lions are one of the largest subspecies. Males have a body length of 2.5-3.1 m with a tail, and females - 2.3-2.65 m. The weight of males is 140-242 kg, and females - 105-170 kg. The height at the withers is 0.9-1.2 m.
like everyone else African lions, Katanga lions prey mainly on large animals such as warthogs, zebras, wildebeest. Males tend to have lighter manes than lions of other subspecies.
There is a small population of these lions in captivity. 29 lions of this subspecies are registered with the International Species Information System. Southwestern lions are descended from animals that were captured in Angola and Zimbabwe. However, the purity of the bloodline of these captive lions cannot be confirmed. Genetic analysis indicates that they may be descended from lions from West or Central Africa.
Males tend to have a well developed mane. Most of them are black. The body length of males varies between 2.6-3.2 m, and females - 2.35-2.75 m. The weight of males reaches 15-250 kg, and females - 110-182 kg. Height at the withers - 1.92-1.23 m.
White lions have a rare color mutation, they belong to the Transvaal lions. Leucism occurs only in these lions, but is rare. They live in several nature reserves and zoos around the world.
According to recent genetic research, the extinct Cape lion, previously distinguished as a separate subspecies, did not have significant differences with South African subspecies. Therefore, the Cape lion represented the southern population of the Transvaal lion.
More than 2000 individuals of this subspecies have good protection in the Kruger National Park. In addition, about 1,000 lions are registered with the International Species Information System. These animals are descendants of lions captured in South Africa.
As with the Barbary lion, there is a lot of confusion due to the dark colored mane in captive animals. The dark mane is the result of breeding and crossing lions captured long ago in Africa. Mixing of subspecies has contributed to hybridization, which is why most modern lions in captivity have mixed alleles of representatives of different subspecies.
Early authors justified the allocation of a separate subspecies by the presence of a fixed morphology in animals. The males had huge mane, extending beyond the shoulders and covering the abdomen and ears, as well as distinctive black tassels. However, it has now been proven that such external characteristics dependent on ambient temperature and other factors. The results of a mitochondrial DNA study published in 2006 do not support the isolation of a separate subspecies.
Cape lions preferred to hunt large ungulates such as antelopes, zebras, giraffes and buffaloes. They also killed donkeys and cattle belonging to European settlers. The cannibals were usually old lions with bad teeth.
Cape black-maned lions lived in southern Africa, but since they were not the only representatives of lions in the southern territories, it is difficult to determine the exact range of habitat. Their stronghold was the Cape, near Cape Town. One of the last representatives who lived in the province was killed in 1858, and in 1876 the Czech explorer Emil Golub bought a young lion, which died two years later.
The Cape Lion disappeared so quickly after contact with Europeans that habitat destruction can hardly be considered a significant factor. Dutch and English settlers, hunters and sportsmen simply destroyed the lions.
Even small children know that the lion is the king of animals. Why the predator was awarded such a title, many probably wondered. According to the researchers, these big cats are not the fastest and most agile and, no offense to royalty, they are not the smartest among predators. True, only they can, after a successful hunt, make a victorious roar, from which all life in the vicinity freezes. But even this cannot be a reason for receiving such a high rank.
There are many factors confirming that this powerful predator is the king of beasts. In this article, we will introduce you to them.
Description of a predatory cat
To understand why the lion is the king of beasts, let's pay attention to its appearance. Probably no one will dispute the fact that this predator looks really regal, especially a young one, full of strength animal. His black-brown or fiery red mane gives him royal majesty. Yes, and the voice of a lion, no one doubts its belonging. On a quiet night, his roar causes awe in everyone who hears him even eight kilometers from the location of the king of beasts.
External Features
The lion is an animal with a flexible, very strong, agile and muscular body. The Predator is an excellent runner. This is a beautiful large cat with well-developed muscles of the front paws, with which it holds the prey, and the neck. The lion, as befits the king of animals, is one of the largest predators on our planet. An African male on average weighs about one hundred and sixty kilograms, and reaches a length of two and a half meters. In 1936, in South Africa, hunters shot a lion weighing 313 kilograms.
The description of the lion in various sources suggests that the main deadly weapon lion are its powerful jaws with huge fangs. The lion's grip is extremely strong with only one tooth. It easily holds even such large animals as, for example, wildebeest. The tongue of the lion is rough, covered with tubercles, which are sharp spikes that help the predator to tear off pieces of meat, tearing the prey apart. They also help the animal to remove ticks from the skin and catch fleas when he cares for the skin.
Lion hybrids
In nature, animals of each species are looking for a partner of their species to continue the genus. But sometimes this well-established system fails, and hybrids are born. In our case, these are animals obtained from crossing a lion and a tiger. Depending on what species the parents belong to, the name of the offspring is also determined: if the father is a lion, then the cub is called a liger, if the mother is a lioness, then the baby is called a tiger.
The characteristics of hybrids differ significantly. For example, tigers are usually much smaller than their parents. And ligers are particularly large in size, such as, for example, liger Hercules living at the Institute of Protected and rare species(Miami). Its length reaches three meters.
Most often, hybrids are sterile, but scientists note interesting fact: in such hybrids, only males remain infertile, but females rarely, but bring offspring. Very rare hybrids of the second level. This is due to the rare cases when ligers (females) or tigers retain the ability to reproduce. It is they who give offspring with the participation of tigers or lions.
white lions
These are not hybrids, but animals with reduced melanin production. The reason for this is very a rare occurrence- recessive gene. As a result of its exposure, a very light color appears, which can vary from creamy beige to white. In some white lions, some parts of the body are painted in this color, and others in cream, there are individuals with an even white-cream color.
Often, white lions, which are often described in specialized literature, have blue eyes (which is also due to low levels of melanin). Today, the planet is inhabited by only about three hundred white individuals. Special programs for the conservation of these animals have been developed. The lions themselves with this color, living in the wild, have a hard time: this color unmasks them, complicating the hunt.
Range and habitats
The lion is an animal distributed on two continents: in Asia and Africa, where their distribution area is located south of the Sahara desert. In Asia, lions live in the Gir Forest (Indian state of Gujarat). The habitats of lions are mainly savannas, but they are found in forests and dense shrubs.
How long do lions live?
The lifespan of a predator depends on various factors. Under natural conditions, despite their ferocious appearance, strength and dexterity, these huge cats face many dangers, hunting injuries, injuries, which by no means prolong the life of a predator. These are skirmishes not for life, but for death with strangers for territories, and attacks by other no less aggressive and dangerous predators. The animal is seriously injured during the lion's hunt for large animals (buffalo, for example).
But as before, the biggest problem for the lion is poachers. Therefore, in the wild, lions live on average for about 10 years, and centenarians reaching the age of fourteen are much less common. It should be noted that in the wild, lionesses live two to three years longer than males. This is probably due to the fact that lionesses do not participate in skirmishes with strangers in the struggle for territory.
Lifespan in captivity
Since the end of the 18th century, people have been trying to save these beautiful animals from extinction, trying to keep them in reserves where predatory cats live and breed normally. How long do lions live in captivity? Their life expectancy is significantly increased: in reserves and zoos, predators live up to 20 and even up to 25 years, subject to proper care and supervision of veterinarians.
Lifestyle
None of the predators, except for lions, has such an organization of coexistence. Perhaps this explains why the lion is the king of beasts. A pride is a rather large group of animals, in which, as a rule, there are several females with offspring and one or two males. Sometimes there are prides consisting of only females, but most often this indicates that the male has died, and soon a young leader will take his place.
Sometimes full LION'pride has up to forty animals, but more often they are much smaller. It has an average of fifteen to eighteen animals. The lifestyle of a lion is measured and unhurried. In the hot hours of the day, after a meal, all family members gather in one place and rest.
The lion pride is a unique structure from which everyone wins: the males are fed, the females are protected. As a true master, the lion competently rules in his possessions. All animals living in the territory of the pride belong to the king of beasts. But here it should be emphasized that lions never kill extra animals, "for the future." They know perfectly well how much food is required to feed a family.
The role of females in the pride
In the family, females decide where, how and whom to hunt, although they rarely act together. The only exception is hunting big booty when females attack in pairs. Interestingly, unlike many animals, female lions get along well with other females, often looking after their neighbor's "children" as if they were their own.
If for some reason the female cannot hunt (for example, due to an injury), then in the pride she is taken care of and allowed to eat together. Animals act much harder with aged and sick lions: the pride refuses them. The family not only does not protect them, but also expels them. A decrepit, weak and skinny lion often becomes an easy prey for hyenas.
The lion rules a little. As a rule, the period of his stay on the “throne” is no more than three years, after which he is “overthrown”, like a real king, by a stronger and younger male. The next head of the pride is the lion, which is not a blood relative of the females. All pride females are sisters. Males are strangers. They come to the family from other prides. So nature took care of preventing the degradation of predators and incest.
Relationships in the pride
A strict hierarchy reigns in the lion family, which is inherent in the minds of animals at the level of instinct - a well-fed leader is a kind and reliable protector. For this reason, the head of the pride, the adult lion, is the first to start the meal. Until he finishes it, no one can even get close to the prey. For disobedience, the violator will face severe punishment: he can be expelled from the family.
Having had their fill, the lions play with the babies. I must say that they are very patient with lion cubs, sometimes they even show amazing tenderness. However, the main process of education goes to females. They all feed their young together. Not a single female will ever refuse a baby milk if his mother went hunting.
reproduction
During the mating season, the king of beasts is especially gentle with his chosen one. The leader lion mates with a female who is in heat. During mating, the lion bites the lioness on the scruff of the neck, which is common to all cats. Three and a half months later, the pregnant lioness leaves the pride, finds a secluded, usually grassy corner, in which the offspring are born.
Lion cubs are born helpless and blind. Their skin is covered with spots that disappear over time. In most cases, no more than half of the cubs survive. Babies are breastfed until they are six months old. Then their diet consists only of meat.
raising lion cubs
Young lions are also taught to hunt by females. When the cubs reach the age of three months, they go hunting with their mothers. At first, they completely copy the actions of experienced hunters - they learn to sneak up and hide unnoticed, repeat the movements that their mothers make when attacking prey. And already at six months, teenage lions hunt on their own, getting food for the entire pride.
However, babies are always in danger: they can become the prey of strangers. In addition, if the old leader is defeated, the new one can kill the cubs, seizing the right moment when their mothers are on the hunt. Thus, the new leader achieves the location of the females. The fact is that after the death of the offspring, literally the next day, the lioness is ready for mating.
Sometimes difficult situations arise in the family. As a rule, this happens when the lions guarding the pride leave in search of new territories for the family. At this time, lionesses with cubs have to survive on their own, earning their own food. When it becomes especially difficult, exhausted females begin to howl plaintively, calling males for help. And a miracle happens - the males return to the pride and help get food.
In the animal world, the lion pride is the only example of such a relationship between related individuals. Only lions manage to create such a system of mutual assistance and support that does not suppress each other.
It seems to us that it is quite obvious why the lion is the king of beasts. He confirms his title with his majestic appearance, behavior, and advantage in strength and power over most predators. So far, no other animal in the world has claimed this high title.