Lions: Facts & Information Lions: Facts & Information By Alina Bradford, Live Science Contributor | October 2, 2014 09:20pm ET MORE Credit: Lion image via Shutterstock Lions are large felines that are traditionally depicted as the "king of the jungle." These big cats once roamed Africa, Asia and Europe. However, now they are found in only two areas of the world and are classified into two subspecies. Asiatic lions live in India's Gir Forest; African lions live in central and southern Africa. Though they look similar, these two subspecies are very different in size, habitat, diet and more. Size & characteristics The African lion is 4.5 to 6.5 feet (1.4 to 2 meters) long from its head to its rump, and its tail measures from 26.25 to 39.5 inches (67 to 100 centimeters) long. African lions typically weigh 265 to 420 lbs. (120 to 191 kilograms). Asiatic lions tend to be much bigger, according to the World Wildlife Federation (WWF).

They weigh 300 to 500 lbs. (120 to 226 kg) and are 6.56 to 9.18 feet (200 to 280 cm) long. Their tails measure 23.62 to 35.43 inches (60 to 90 cm). Male lions are generally larger than females and have a distinctive mane of hair around their heads. The mane's function is to make the male look more impressive to females and more intimidating to other males, according to the San Diego Zoo . The mane also protects the male's neck during fights over territory or mating rights. An African Lioness takes a swipe at remote camera in the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Credit: © naturepl.com / Anup Shah / WWF-Canon Habitat African lions live in Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Tanzania, the Central African Republic, South Sudan and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa. They wander a territory of 100 square miles (259 square kilometers), according to National Geographic . This territory consists of scrub, grasslands or open woodlands. Asiatic lions are found only in the Gir Forest National Park in India.

This park is a wildlife sanctuary on 877.37 square miles (1,412 square km) of land. The land includes a deciduous forest, grasslands, scrub jungle and rocky hills. Diet African lions eat large animals that they find in the grasslands, including antelopes, zebras and wildebeest. Asiatic lions eat large animals as well, such as goats, nilgai, chital, sambhar and buffaloes. They are also known to eat smaller animals. Habits Lions are very social cats and live in groups called prides. Asiatic and African lion prides are very different, though. African lion prides consist of up to three males, around a dozen females, and their young, according to National Geographic. There are prides that have as many as 40 members, though. Asian lions divide themselves into two prides. The females have a pride and the males have a pride. They only come together during mating season. With both types of lion prides, the females stay put. All of the females in a pride are usually related to each other because females tend to stay with the pride in which they are born.

Males, on the other hand, wander off to create their own pride when they are old enough. Offspring Woodland Park Zoo Credit: Ryan/Woodland Park Zoo At 3 to 4 years old, males and females are ready to mate. The female has a gestation period of around four months. She will give birth to her young away from others and hide the cubs for the first six weeks of their lives. At birth, the cubs are only around 3 lbs. (1.5 kg). They are also completely dependent on their mother. All of the females in a group of lions mate at the same time. After the first six weeks, the cubs are taken care of by all of the females and will often nurse from females other than their mother, according to the San Diego Zoo . Classification/taxonomy The taxonomy of lions recognized by most experts is: Kingdom: Animalia Genus & species: Panthera leo Subspecies: Panthera leo leo (African lion), Panthera leo persica (Asiatic lion) The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) only recognizes these two subspecies, while the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), maintained by the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, lists six other subspecies. However, there is ongoing debate among researchers about whether those are true subspecies, according to the University of Michigan's Museum of Zoology . A male Asiatic lion, a critically endangered animal found only in Gir National Forest in India. Credit: Lion image via Shutterstock Conservation status Lions face threats from hunting, habitat loss and diseases that can be spread from domestic dogs in nearby villages, according to the National Zoo. African lions are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. This is because their numbers are decreasing. Their current population is estimated at 30,000 to 100,000. The population has been almost cut in half in the past two decades because of retaliatory killings by farmers (whose livestock the lions eat), as well as from trophy hunting and habitat loss. Asiatic lions are in a much more perilous position as human encroachment has reduced their habitat. The IUCN lists them as endangered and says only about 350 of them exist. This group includes only about 175 mature individuals. Other facts Females are the main hunters of the pride.

They form hunting parties to round up the fast animals found in their habitat. Lions also go toe-to-toe with animals much larger than themselves. Lions can kill animals that weigh up to 1,000 lbs., according to the Smithsonian National Zoo. To kill their prey, lions use their powerful jaws to snap the prey's neck or to strangle it to death. Male African lions that are trying to take over a pride will kill all of the cubs to avoid competition. Lions and tigers are so closely related that if you shaved them you wouldn't be able to tell them apart. Their body structure is so similar only experts can tell them apart, according to the Smithsonian. Lions are also related to leopards and jaguars. Though mountain lions (pumas) are in the same family (Felidae) as Asiatic and African lions, they are not considered lions. According to the WWF , lions can run up to 50 mph (80 kph) for short distances and leap as far as 36 feet (11 m).

Additional resources Lion (Panthera Leo) - Animals - A-Z Animals Five groups that classify all living things Animalia A group of animals within the animal kingdom Chordata A group of animals within a pylum Mammalia A group of animals within a class Carnivora A group of animals within an order Felidae A group of animals within a family Panthera Comprised of the genus followed by the species Panthera leo Most widely used name for the species Lion The domestic group such as cat or dog Mammal The specific area where the animal lives open woodland, scrub, grassland The colour of the animal's coat or markings Tawny, Gold, Blonde, Brown The protective layer of the animal Fur How long (L) or tall (H) the animal is 1.4m - 2.5m (4.7ft - 8.2ft) The measurement of how heavy the animal is 120kg - 249kg (264lbs - 550lbs) The fastest recorded speed of the animal 56kph (35mph) What kind of foods the animal eats Carnivore The food that the animal gains energy from Antelope, Warthog, Z

ebra Other animals that hunt and eat the animal Human Whether the animal is solitary or sociable Diurnal/Nocturnal How long the animal lives for 8 - 15 years The average number of babies born at once 3 The likelihood of the animal becoming extinct Vulnerable Long and thick hairy mane of the male around the face Fun Fact: Lives in small groups called prides!

Lion Location Lion Lion Classification and Evolution The Lion is one of the largest, strongest and powerful felines in the world second only in size to the Siberian Tiger . They are the largest cats on the African continent and are unique among felines in a number of ways but the biggest difference between Lions and other cats is that they are incredibly sociable animals that live together in family groups known as prides. Lions are also part of the big cat family meaning that both males and females are able to roar. Despite having once roamed across much of Africa and even parts of Europe and Asia , the world's remaining Lion population now resides in sub-Saharan Africa . However, with Lion numbers thought to have dropped by 30% over the past 20 years these enormous predators are sadly becoming more and more vulnerable in their decreasing natural environment . Lion Anatomy and Appearance Lions have a short coat of tawny or golden fur with a long tail that has a tuft of longer fur at the end. The markings on their coats are much fainter than the bold stripes and spots displayed on other felines which helps these large carnivores in going unseen when stalking prey in the long grasses.

The Lion is one of the largest cats in the world with males being taller and heavier than females and displaying a mane of long hair around their faces (in fact, it is the only case in the feline world where males and females actually look different). Thought to be connected with testosterone levels, the mane of the male Lion ranges from blonde, to red, brown and black in colour and covers their head, neck and chest. Lions have strong and powerful jaws that contain 30 teeth in total which includes four fang-like canines and four carnassial teeth that are perfectly designed for slicing through flesh. Lion Distribution and Habitat Historically, Lions would have been found throughout much of Africa and even in parts of Europe and Asia as well. Today however, they have been pushed into more isolated pockets of their once vast natural range with the remaining African Lion population now only found in countries in sub-Saharan Africa . There is also still a small population of Asiatic Lions found inhabiting a remote part of the Gir Forest in India where there are an estimated 300 individuals remaining. Despite their dwindling numbers, Lions are actually incredibly adaptable animals that can and will inhabit very dry climates as they get most of the moisture they need from their food.

They prefer areas of open woodland, scrub and long grasslands where there is not only plenty over cover but also a wide variety of prey . They are only not found in areas of rainforest or far into deserts . Lion Behaviour and Lifestyle Lions are unique among cats as they live together in strong social groups . A pride is made up of 5-15 related females and their cubs along with a generally single male (small groups of 2 or 3 though are not uncommon). Male Lions patrol a territory of around 100m² marking trees and rocks with urine and roaring to warn off intruders. Although male Lions can defend their pride to great effect, their position in the pride is constantly under threat from other males who try to take over their patch and if successful, they will kill any cubs that were sired by the previous male. Despite their enormous size , male Lions actually do hardly any of the hunting as they are often slower and more easily seen than their female counterparts. The Lionesses in the pride hunt together meaning that they are not only more successful on their trips, but they are also able to catch and kill animals that are both faster than them and much bigger.

Lion Reproduction and Life Cycles Both male and female Lions are able to reproduce between the ages of two and three but despite this, they will often not breed until the pride has been firmly established. After a gestation period that lasts for nearly four months female Lions give birth to between one and six cubs that are born blind and are incredibly vulnerable in their new surroundings. The fur of Lion cubs is covered in darker spots that help to camouflage them into their den to protect them whilst the adults have gone out to hunt. Sadly however, less than half of cubs make it to be a year old and four out of five have died by the time they are two, generally either from animal attacks or starvation. Remarkably though, the female Lions in the pride will have their cubs at around the same time and will help to suckle and care for the cubs of other females. Lion cubs suckle on milk until they are about six months old and although they won't begin actively hunting until they are about a year old, Lion cubs start to eat meat after 12 weeks or so. Lion Diet and Prey The Lion is a large and carnivorous animal that survives only by eating other animals in order to sustain itself.

Unlike other felines, Lions are not solitary hunters but instead the Lionesses work together in order to chase down and catch their prey with each female having a different strategic role. This strategy allows them to kill animals that are both faster and much larger than they are including Buffalo , Wildebeest and even Giraffe . Depending on the abundance and variety of prey species within their territory , Lions primarily catch Gazelle, Zebra and Warthog along with a number of Antelope species by following the herds across the open grasslands . They will not turn their noses up though at hunting alone should the situation arise and will happily steal the kill of another animal . Once the animal has been caught though, circumstances change as the females will allow the male Lion to eat first before indulging themselves. The cubs however are at the bottom of the pile and have to be content with what remains once the adults have finished. Lion Predators and Threats The Lion is the most dominant predator within it's environment meaning that other animals pose little or no threat to them, with the exception of Hyena packs that can cause fatal damages to Lions particularly when they are on their own and food is about.

Lions are seen as a great threat by many other species including both Giraffes and Elephants which are easily capable of fatally injuring a Lion to try and warn it off. The biggest threat to Lions though is people who not only kill them out of fear (and historically as trophies), but have caused severe declines in Lion population numbers due to growing Human settlements and the clearing of land for agriculture. Lion numbers have also been severely affected by diseases passed through Hyenas from Wild Dogs , with more than 1,000 Lions having died from canine distemper between 1993 and 1997. Lion Interesting Facts and Features Young Lion cubs spend a great deal of time playing together which actually helps them to develop their hunting techniques. This method of role-playing in cubs also helps females to determine whether or not they would be suited better to chasing and cornering prey , or catching and killing it. Although Lions are able to make a number of different sounds it is their roar that is most distinctive and not only serves to warn off strange males, but also allows members of the pride to find one another as it's sound can travel up to six miles!

The Lion has large paws with soft pads underneath and sharp retractable claws on the end of each toe which aid them in running, climbing and catching their prey along with also being good defence mechanisms. The structure of their feet and legs means that they are also able to jump distances over 10 meters. Lion Relationship with Humans Lions have been admired and feared by people for centuries but due to both hunting and growing Human settlements, Lions have been wiped out from a vast portion of their historical natural range. Although they do not naturally see people as prey , African Lions have been known to sneak into villages (sometimes of great size) to find food, and are known to attack up to 700 people every year, with Lions being responsible for 100 human fatalities annually in Tanzania alone. In 1898, two Lions in Kenya (known as Tsavo lions - a species of mane-less Lion) became famous for killing and eating over 130 rail-road workers over a period of around 9 months. These powerful predators are largely feared by people who once hunted them as trophies and have also always done so out of fear.

Lion Conservation Status and Life Today Today, the Lion is listed by the IUCN as an animal that is Vulnerable from extinction in it's natural environment in the near future. Although population numbers would have been vast in comparison to what they are now, over the past 20 years we have lost around 30% of the Lion population from sub-Saharan Africa with estimated population numbers ranging between 16,500 to 30,000 individuals (half of what they were in the 1950s). The main reason for the rapid demise of Africa's remaining Lion population is thought to be due to habitat loss as they are not only loosing big chunks of their native ranges, but are also often then forced onto farmland or into settlements to find food meaning they are often killed. Share This Article Learn how you can use or cite the Lion article in your website content, school work and other projects. First Published: 5th December 2008, Last Updated: 9th January 2017 [View Sources] Sources: 1. About Lions (Date Unknown) Available at: [Accessed at: 05 Dec 2008] 2.

David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 05 Dec 2008] 3. David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia [Accessed at: 01 Jan 2011] 4. David W. Macdonald, Oxford University Press (2010) The Encyclopedia Of Mammals [Accessed at: 01 Jan 2010] 5. Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 05 Dec 2008] 6. Lion Facts (Date Unknown) Available at: [Accessed at: 05 Dec 2008] 7. Lion Information (Date Unknown) Available at: [Accessed at: 05 Dec 2008] 8. Lion Status (Date Unknown) Available at: [Accessed at: 05 Dec 2008] 9.

Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species [Accessed at: 01 Jan 2009] 10. Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 05 Dec 2008] Are you Safe? Are You Safe? is an online safety campaign by A-Z-Animals.com. If something has upset you, the Are You Safe? campaign can help you to speak to someone who can help you. Lion {Panthera Leo} Lion {Panthera Leo} experiences in our beautiful country By Province You are here: South Africa / Information / South African Wildlife / Lion South Africa WildlifeThe Lion {Panthera Leo} Lions are the second largest members of the feline family in the world. Lion are tan in colour and have a slightly white under-body, with a tuft of black hair at the end of their tails. Most cat species live a fundamentally solitary existence, but the lion is an exception. It has developed a social system based on teamwork and a division of labour within the pride, and an extended but closed family unit centres around a group of related females.

The average pride consists of about 15 individuals, including five to 10 females with their young and two or three territorial males that are usually brothers or pride mates. Quick Facts Lion stand 48 inches high at the shoulder. Adult male lion weigh about 416 pounds. Female lions weigh 277 pounds. Males Male lions are typically 4 feet in height with a large mane of hair that begins to develop around age two that surrounds the neck. The mane can vary in colour from tawny/tan to black. Females Female lions are 44 inches in height, and have no mane around their neck. Cubs are born with a slightly spotted coat, that changes to their parents tawny coloration around three months of age. Female lions live longer than males, and Serengeti female lions can live up to age 18, whereas males typically live to age 12. Habitat Lions are found in savannahs, grasslands, dense bush and woodlands. Diet - Carnivore Lions are opportunists when it comes to feeding.

They will scavenge from other predators that have killed an animal, or will hunt animals ranging in size from the large African buffalo to a small hare. Socialisation Lions are the only 'social' cats, whereby related female lions live together and form groups called 'prides'. Lion prides are family groups with all of the females related, mothers and daughters, sisters and cousins, etc. A pride can range from three to 30 individuals, but tend to average about fifteen members, which include male and female lions plus a number of cubs. The number of lions in a pride will vary significantly based on the number of prey animals that live or migrate through the pride's territory. Reproduction Lion cubs are born after a gestation period of 110 days, with female lions giving birth in a den site, typically located in a rock outcrop or in dense vegetation. A female will on average give birth to three cubs that are between 2 to 4 pounds in weight. Predators Lion facts Predators: Humans The lion is a magnificent animal that appears as a symbol of power, courage and nobility on family crests, coats of arms and national flags in many civilizations.

Lions at one time were found from Greece through the Middle East to northern India, but today only a very small population remains in India. In the past lions lived in most parts of Africa, but are now confined to the sub-Saharan region. Most cat species live a fundamentally solitary existence, but the lion is an exception. It has developed a social system based on teamwork and a division of labor within the pride, and an extended but closed family unit centered around a group of related females. The average pride consists of about 15 individuals, including five to 10 females with their young and two or three territorial males that are usually brothers or pride mates. Physical Characteristics Generally a tawny yellow, lions, like other species, tend to be lighter in color in hot, arid areas and darker in areas of dense vegetation. Mature male lions are unique among the cat species for the thick mane of brown or black hair that encircles the head and neck. The tails of lions end in a horny spine covered with a tuft of hair. Habitat Lions are found in savannas, grasslands, dense bush and woodlands.

Behavior Females do 85 to 90 percent of the pride's hunting, while the males patrol the territory and protect the pride, for which they take the "lion's share" of the females' prey. When resting, lions seem to enjoy good fellowship with lots of touching, head rubbing, licking and purring. But when it comes to food, each lion looks out for itself. Squabbling and fighting are common, with adult males usually eating first, followed by the females and then the cubs. Lions are the laziest of the big cats. They usually spend 16 to 20 hours a day sleeping and resting, devoting the remaining hours to hunting, courting or protecting their territory. They keep in contact with one another by roaring loud enough to be heard up to five miles away. The pride usually remains intact until the males are challenged and successfully driven away or killed by other males, who then take over. Not all lions live in prides. At maturity, young males leave the units of their birth and spend several years as nomads before they become strong enough to take over a pride of their own.

Some never stop wandering and continue to follow migrating herds; but the nomadic life is much more difficult, with little time for resting or reproducing. Within the pride, the territorial males are the fathers of all the cubs. When a lioness is in heat, a male will join her, staying with her constantly. The pair usually mates for less than a minute, but it does so about every 15 to 30 minutes over a period of four to five days. Lions may hunt at any hour, but they typically go after large prey at night. They hunt together to increase their success rate, since prey can be difficult to catch and can outrun a single lion. The lions fan out along a broad front or semicircle to creep up on prey. Once with within striking distance, they bound in among the startled animals, knock one down and kill it with a bite to the neck or throat. Hunts are successful about half the time. Diet Cooperative hunting enables lions to take prey as large as wildebeests, zebras, buffaloes, young elephants, rhinos, hippos and giraffes, any of which can provide several meals for the pride.

Mice, lizards, tortoises, warthogs, antelopes and even crocodiles also form part of a lion's diet. Because they often take over kills made by hyenas, cheetahs and leopards, scavenged food provides more than 50 percent of their diets in areas like the Serengeti plains. Caring for the Young Litters consist of two or three cubs that weigh about 3 pounds each. Some mothers carefully nurture the young; others may neglect or abandon them, especially when food is scarce. Usually two or more females in a pride give birth about the same time, and the cubs are raised together. A lioness will permit cubs other than her own to suckle, sometimes enabling a neglected infant to survive. Capable hunters by 2 years of age, lions become fully grown between 5 and 6 years and normally live about 13 years. Predators Lions have long been killed in rituals of bravery, as hunting trophies and for their medicinal and magical powers. Although lions are now protected in many parts of Africa, they were once considered to be stock-raiding vermin and were killed on sight. In some areas, livestock predation remains a severe problem.

Did you know? Most lions drink water daily if available, but can go four or five days without it. Lions in arid areas seem to obtain needed moisture from the stomach contents of their prey. When males take over a pride, they usually kill the cubs. The females come into estrus and the new males sire other cubs. copyright: Paul Janssen Why Do Male Lions Have Manes? | Mental Floss Why Do Male Lions Have Manes? iStock Like us on Facebook Much like the defining features on many animals, a lion's mane is all about attracting the ladies. A century or two ago, biologists like Charles Darwin postulated that lions grew a thick mane of hair around their necks to protect that vulnerable area from attacks by other lions. Over time, however, field biologists observed lion behavior (from a safe distance) and noted that when lions fought one another, they rarely went for the mane region. Instead they regularly attacked from the rear, targeting the back and the hindquarters. So, if the mane isn’t designed for protection, what is its purpose? Why, propagation of the species, of course.

In the sweltering heat of areas where lions gather, a huge ring of long hair around the face and neck does nothing to help cool the body. That bushy fringe is an inviting home to a variety of parasites, and it also makes the lion stand out against the scenery (a desirable trait for a fashion model but not so much for an ambush hunter). With all those negatives attached to sporting neck hair, the only positive is that it takes some sturdy genes and a very healthy constitution for a male to live long enough to grow a substantial mane. Over the centuries, lionesses have twigged onto the fact that a huge, lush, thick, impressive head of hair equals a virile baby daddy who has the stones to not only sire her cubs but also to aggressively protect them along with the rest of the pride. Lion mane linked to climate | The Field Museum Lion mane linked to climate Lion mane linked to climate Wednesday, February 23, 2011 Lions If you were a male lion and could read the latest scientific research, you would want to move to a warmer climate, where your mane would be more impressive. That is, until it started getting smaller, to fit you to your new warmer climate!

It's long been known that lions with long, full manes get the girls. Now, an innovative study based on zoo animals all across America shows for the first time that cold temperatures help the king of the beast grow his mane long and thick, and more appealing to potential mates. In fact, up to one-half of the length and density of a zoo lion's mane can be attributed to temperature, rather than nutrition, social factors, individual history, or genes, according to a study that will be the cover story of the April 2006 issue of the Journal of Mammalogy. A copy of the article can be read here . MAMM8702_Cover1-s.jpg Dense manes retard heat loss as would a scarf or fur hat. Zoo lions in hot climates adapt with smaller, thinner manes. Those in northern zoos never overheat so no reduction in their mane is necessary. Those in southern zoos occasionally overheat, so a differential hair growth rate keeps their manes relatively thinner. These differences in mane conditions are not the result of natural selection. Rather, they are a sign of a flexible trait that can vary to match local conditions.

Like a buck's antlers or a peacock's tail feathers, the lion's mane primarily serves to attract females and intimidate male competitors. But it comes with a cost: a full mane takes energy to grow and maintain; gives away location to prey; makes maneuvering through bramble difficult; harbors parasites, and, as we have said, retains heat. This lion lives in the Alexandria Zoological Park in Alexandria, La. The new research helps explain the correlation between climate and manes and may lead to revisions in the lion's... Click here for more information. Overheating explains why lions in colder climates have longer, thicker manes: the heat-retention cost of a full mane is less for lions in cold weather conditions than it is for lions in hot weather conditions. "While a big mane impresses everybody, even a small mane can be imposing in hot dry climates, where the costs of overheating are great and most male lions have little or no mane. This is the case in Tsavo, Kenya, where most lions are maneless," said Bruce D. Patterson, PhD, the MacArthur curator of mammals at The Field Museum and lead author of the research. Alex Tsavo-1c.jpg Dr.

Patterson conducting fieldwork in Tsavo National Parks, Kenya. He and his colleagues began studying manes due to their research on the infamous maneless Tsavo lions. Dr. Patterson is the author of The Lions of Tsavo (McGraw Hill, 2004), which tells the story of the man-eaters. At the end of the 19h century, two Tsavo lions set upon railway crews and ate as many as 135 people (by some accounts) before they were finally hunted down and killed. He has also authored more than 15 other articles on lions, which can be downloaded here . Those two lions have been on display at The Field Museum since 1925, and are the subject of a major motion picture staring Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer called "The Ghost and the Darkness" (Paramount, 1996). While their man-eating habits have garnered most of the headlines, the maneless condition of these adult male lions is even more curious. Broad, far reaching research The new study examined mane variation for 19 lions in 17 zoos across the United States, from as far north as Chicago to as far south as Houston. Dr.

Patterson visited these and other zoos last spring to inspect lions and photograph their manes for later analysis and comparison. His team identified 11 mane fields: throat, forehead, upper neck, sideburns, chest, shoulders, sternum, ribs, belly, elbows and dorsal crest. Dr. Patterson photographed all of these fields for each lion. Later, trained volunteers used the high-resolution photographs to rank the length, density and color of all 11 fields for each lion. The lions ranged from 1.7 to 18 years old, but age did not turn out to be a factor in mane length or density. The zoos included in the study are located in cities that span 12 degrees of latitude or more than 2,000 miles: Alexandria, La.; Coal Valley, Ill.; Dallas; Des Moines, Iowa; Houston; Lufkin, Texas; Memphis, Tenn.; Monroe, La.; New Orleans; Oakland, Calif.; Peoria, Ill.; Sacramento, Calif.; Salina, Kan; St. Louis; Topeka, Kan.; Tyler, Texas; and Vallejo, Calif.

Mean temperatures there varied from 20 to 54 degrees Fahrenheit in January and from 65 to 87 degrees Fahrenheit in July. Cold January temperatures showed a stronger correlation with mane variation than did hot July temperatures, suggesting a stronger response to cold than to heat. The volunteers who ranked the lion manes for length, density and color were experienced with observing lions. Most of them had studied lions in Kenya as Earthwatch Institute volunteers. Earthwatch engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. It offers 130 expeditions in 47 countries per year (see "To date, 300 volunteers from 20 nations have contributed to our work in Tsavo," Patterson said. Long, thick manes such as this one intimidate rivals and attract potential mates. But they come with a cost, including heat retention. New research shows that lions adapt to hotter... Click here for more information. Shaking up the lion family tree Based on the results of this study, scientists now know that lion manes can vary tremendously due to local climate. Therefore, taxonomists may be obliged to reanalyze the lion family tree.

Over the years, scientists have ascribed lions to various species and subspecies based largely on their outward appearance, especially the length and density of their manes. In fact, 23 different names have been proposed for African Panthera leo. But the new research suggests this number may be exaggerated, an idea that is supported by recent genetic studies. "It is reasonable to hypothesize that most regional variation in manes reflects climate and other environmental influences, such as rainfall, rather than demarcating evolutionarily significant units within Panthera leo," the authors conclude. Another result from this study will be the need for scientists to re-examine their understanding of the cave lions of Europe's Ice Age. Pleistocene lions apparently had no manes, which resulted in them being classified as separate subspecies of Panthera leo: either P. leo spelaea or P. leo atrox. But given the new knowledge that cold climate tends to increase mane length and density, the complete lack of manes in the cold Ice Age habitats "could be marshaled to justify their allocation to separate species," the authors conclude. Lions once roamed over most of the world but are now limited to small parts of Africa and India.

Only about 25,000 lions live in the wild today, down from more than 100,000 only 25 years ago. Their numbers have been decimated by human encroachment on their habitats and by conflicts with people. "The large-maned lion has always been an important symbol to our culture," said Roland Kays, curator of mammals at the New York State Museum in Albany, N.Y., and a coauthor of this study. "We hope they can survive outside of cold-weather zoos." The other coauthors of the study are S.M. Kasiki, of the Kenya Wildlife Service, in Nairobi, Kenya; and V.M. Sebestyen of the Penn State University Library.

### Lions at the following zoos were included in the results of this research: Alexandria Zoological Park, Alexandria, La.; Niabi Zoo, Coal Valley, Ill.; Dallas Zoo, Dallas, Texas; Blank Park Zoo, Des Moines, Iowa; Houston Zoo, Houston, Texas; Ellen Trout Zoo, Lufkin, Texas; Memphis Zoo, Memphis, Tenn.; Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo, Monroe, La.; Freeport-McMoran Audubon Species Survival Center, New Orleans, La.; Oakland Zoo, Oakland, Calif.; Glen Oaks Zoo, Peoria, Ill.; Sacramento Zoo, Sacramento, Calif.; Rolling Hills Zoo, Salina, Kan.; Saint Louis Zoological Park, St. Louis, Mo.; Topeka Zoological Park, Topeka, Kan.; Caldwell Zoo, Tyler, Texas; Marine World, Vallejo, Calif. In addition, the following zoos were involved in the study even though lions their lions were not included in the final comparative analysis: Lincoln Park Zoological Gardens, Chicago, Ill.; Fort Worth Zoological Park, Ft. Worth, Texas; Kansas City Zoo, Kansas City, Mo.; San Francisco Zoological Gardens, San Francisco, Calif.; Sedgwick County Zoo, Wichita, Kan.

Great digital images of lions available by email: 1.) Kansas lion with full mane does not look cowardly! Long, thick manes such as this one intimidate rivals and attract potential mates. But they come with a cost, including heat retention. New research shows that lions adapt to hotter climates by growing manes that are less long and thick. This lion lives at the relatively northern Topeka Zoological Park in Topeka, Kansas. Therefore it has a bigger, denser mane than other lions in the study that live in relatively hotter southern climates. Photo by Bruce D. Patterson, Courtesy of The Field Museum 2.) New research explains variation in manes A new study to be published in the Journal of Mammalogy examines mane variation for lions in zoos across the United States, from as far north as Chicago to as far south as Houston, where this impressive lion lives at the Houston Zoo. Bruce Patterson, PhD, the MacArthur curator of mammals at The Field Museum, visited these and other zoos last spring to photograph lions for later analysis and comparison. Photo by Bruce D.

Patterson, Courtesy of The Field Museum 3.) King of the beast soaks up some sun This lion lives in the Alexandria Zoological Park in Alexandria, La. The new research helps explain the correlation between climate and manes and may lead to revisions in the lion's family tree. For example, maneless Ice Age lions were once thought to be a separate subspecies of the African lion, aka Panthera leo. But now scientists know that P. leo retains longer, denser manes in colder climates, so they may determine that the Ice Age maneless lion was a completely different species than P. leo. Photo by Bruce D. Patterson, Courtesy of The Field Museum 4.) The mane story Manes cover more of the lion's body than just the head and neck. For this study, researchers identified 11 mane fields: throat, forehead, upper neck, sideburns, chest, shoulders, sternum, ribs, belly, elbows and dorsal crest. They compared the length and density of these 11 mane fields for all 19 lions. These lions live at the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler, Texas. Photo by Bruce D.

Patterson, Courtesy of The Field Museum 5.) Tsavo Lion in the wilds of Kenya Cassius, this seven-year-old maneless male lion from the Tsavo National Park in Kenya, will grace the cover of the April issue of the Journal of Mammalogy. He was not part of the study discussed here, which was restricted to zoo lions in the United States. Nevertheless, Cassius' sparse mane suggests that a hot climate might contribute to shorter, less dense manes � even outside of zoos. "Many variables interact to affect mane development in wild lions, like this one from Rukinga Ranches near Tsavo National Park," said Bruce D. Patterson, PhD, the MacArthur curator of mammals at The Field Museum and lead author of the research. "Several of these variables, including food, water, and social groupings are controlled in zoological parks, where the authors show climate has a major effect on mane development." Photo by Bruce D. Patterson, Courtesy of The Field Museum Release developed by Greg Borzo, The Field Museum. Questions? Contact Bruce Patterson

Question: What is the name for the hair that surrounds a lion's neck?
Answer: Mane