Unlike the slitted pupil in the eyes of domestic cats, lions have a round pupil like humans.
Lions are the only cats to have tufted tails and male lions the only cat to have a mane.
It is thought that the heavy mane protects males when they are fighting. It can also emphasise his powerful size and show off the good state of his health to opposing males without wasting energy in supporting an increased body size. Mane development is influenced by testosterone and, in captivity, castrated male lions will lose their mane. This is made up of a group of females, all related to each other, and their cubs. There is no dominant female.