Passing lions of the same pride greet each other by rubbing their cheeks together. Sometimes this is prolonged into neck and body rubbing as well. Grooming serves social as well as physical needs of the pride. In grooming, the hard bumpy tongue combs fur clean, cleans off blood after feeding, and removes ticks, fleas and other parasites. Grooming also reinforces social bonds.
Lions are also extremely aware of the subtle changes in posture of each other.
Facial expressions are unusually varied from an antagonistic, defensive threat, with snarling or hissing to an aggressive threat with growls. After a gestation period of 100-119 days, the pregnant female leaves the pride and finds a place to deliver. Depending on the physical characteristics of their habitat, lions will hide their newborn cubs in marshes or kopjes . The number of cubs born depends on the age and dietary condition of the mother. The litter size is 1 to 4 offspring.