Prides include 10 to 15 related females and two or three males. The males are often brothers. Males defend the group s territory, and lionesses cooperate to do everything else, including hunting. Lions recognize each other by their signature roar. Mother lions call their cubs by moaning softly, to keep track of them.
Cubs also make kitten-like sounds, mewing and purring.
Cubs are especially noisy when they re nursing. That s not as fast as most of their prey, so they have to sneak around to catch a meal. Like most savanna species, a lion s coat is darker on top and lighter on bottom. This helps offset the natural shadowing from the sun and makes the lion blend in better. A powerful jaw, long sharp canine teeth, and huge feet with retractable claws that spread out to the size of catcher s mitt also help make the lion a great hunter.