African Lion
Posted on August 24, 2008 - Filed Under Pets
African Lion is the biggest cat in Africa. It is also the top land predator of Africa.
A massively powerful animal, the African Lion weighs in the range of
four hundred and fifty to five hundred and fifty pounds for healthy
adult males whereas females are usually in the range of three hundred
to three hundred and fifty pounds. Length is between six to eight feet
for males and five to six feet for females, excluding a near three foot
tail. Significantly bigger individuals have been recorded though. The
largest wild lion ever weighed was close to seven hundred pounds. In
captivity a specimen of well over eight hundred pound is documented.
Height at shoulders is close to four feet for males and three and a
half feet for females.
The lion’s coat is tawny in coloration and
plain. Fur is short and somewhat coarse. Males are distinguished by
their big mane that covers head, neck and part of belly and back. The
mane is pale in coloration initially and goes through shades to golden
to black as the lion ages. A black colored full mane signifies a mature
lion with good breeding potential and is often preferred by lionesses
for a partner.
In some parts of Africa, including Senegal and
notably Tsavo, Kenya, maneless male lions are recorded, possibly in
adaptation for the thorny habitat of that regions. Overall the built is
muscular for both sexes. Lionesses are more athletic since it allows
them to excel in hunting, their primary role in the pride. Male lions
are bulkier since the added weight and strength allows them to fight
off intruders and defend the pride’s territory.
Weapons include
sharp claws and near three inch canines. Jaws are powerful and skull is
bigger than any other cat specie. Eyes are set in front as in case of
most land predators rather than on sides as in case of prey. The field
of vision that is so essential for prey animals to look out for hunters
comes with widely set eyes. This visual field is compromised in favor
of better depth perception and binocular vision in lions that comes
with relatively narrowly placed eyes, that aid them in judging distance
from prey for pouncing upon it. Tail has a tuft of hair that covers the
spine at the tip of tail. Belly skin is loose and shields the internal
organs from viscous kicks of hunted ungulates during a kill.
Social
cats, African Lions are apex and keystone predators. They live and hunt
together, increasing the chances of success and survival for themselves
and their cubs during harsh seasons. Lionesses do the bulk of hunting
by laying a sort of organized trap for the hunted. Each lioness
performs a specific role in this form of group hunting. Usually the
weak and old are chosen and isolated from the herds. Then one or two
lionesses expose themselves by breaking cover and charging at prey. The
panicked animals take off and usually end up in jaws of a waiting
lioness in their flight. A suffocating hold is placed by biting at the
neck of smaller prey or covering the mouth and nose of larger prey.
In
contrast with previous beliefs, it is now estimated that male lions
take part in up to fifty to sixty percent of all hunts, being of
particular use in taking down larger prey like buffalo. Other animals
taken are of a vast variety depending upon the type and abundance of
prey animals in a particular territory. These include eland, gemsbok,
hartebeest, impala, kudu, warthog, wildebeest and zebra. At times even
giraffes and the young of rhinos, hippos and elephants are killed.
Opportunistic predators, lions will hunt and eat anything in times of
need including carrion. Some lions in Botswana have been filmed killing
elephants after a period of severe drought. Calves were regularly taken
and occasionally so were adults under cover of darkness.
African
Lions are at the top of food chain in African Savannah and do not
refrain from wiping out competition if opportunity presents. Conflict
with spotted hyenas are common who are often able to intimidate
lionesses and cubs owing to their greater numbers, but suffer heavily
when they come in contact with males. Adult male lions have been
witnessed displaying rather savage behavior towards hyenas on
occasions, actively chasing and killing off adult and the young of
hyenas. At times lions have been recorded scavenging off hyena kills.
Interspecies conflict with other big cats also occurs and African Lions
often kill leopards and cheetahs and their young, possibly to ward off
competition.
A number of subspecies of lions are recognized, based upon their area of distribution in Africa.
Panthera Leo Azandica (North East Congo lion) - North-eastern Congo
Panthera
Leo Bleyenberghi (Southwest African or Katanga lion) - South-western
Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Angola, Katanga (Zaire), Zambia and Zimbabwe
Panthera
Leo Krugeri (Southeast African or Transvaal lion) - Transvaal region of
South eastern Africa, including Kruger National Park
Panthera Leo Nubica (East African or Massai lion) - East Africa from Ethiopia and Kenya to Tanzania and Mozambique
Panthera Leo Senegalensis (West African lion) - Western Africa from Senegal to Nigeria
Territorial
cats, African Lions live in pride areas of up to tens of square miles
depending upon the concentration of lions and prey in a particular
region. Males regularly patrol the territory, marking it with scent
from their paws and urine. At dusk and dawn they roar to establish
their presence and warn off intruders. The roar is loudest among cats
and can be heard up to a distance of five miles. A pride consists of
one to four males and up to a dozen or more of females and young cubs.
Females are generally related to each other and usually stay in a pride
for the duration of their life whereas young males are kicked off by
adults when they are between two to three years old. These young males
then pursue a nomadic lifestyle, forming coalitions with other solitary
males and hunting and surviving on their own. When they are four to
five years old they are capable of taking over a pride of their own.
Next
they move into the domain of resident males of an established pride and
attempt to take over the territory and lionesses. This often results in
a bloody and at times fatal battle. If the resident males lose out,
they slink away and the nomads are quick to kill any cubs sired by
previous males. This brings the females into estrus. The new males also
kill or drive away any young males. The take over is often brutal and
sometimes takes months.
After the lionesses have finally settled
down , the new males have only a period of two to three years on average
to produce cubs of their own that can successfully reach adulthood and
propagate their genetic line before they are ousted as well. Females
come into estrus year round and produce a litter of two to three cubs
after a pregnancy lasting between three to four months. The young learn
hunting by one year and are fully independent by two years of age.
Maturity is reached by four years in females and five years in case of
males. Lifespan is between twelve to fifteen years in the wild and
around twenty five years in captivity.
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