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Lion

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

 

Physical characteristics

 

Comparative view of the human and lion frames, c1860

Comparative view of the human and lion frames, c1860

The male lion, easily recognized by his mane, can weigh between 150-225 kg (330-500 lb), but usually most males average around 186 kg (410 lb) and females range from 120-150 kg (260-330 lb)[4], and average around 125 kg (275 lb). Head and body length is 170 to 250 cm (5'7" to 8'2") in males and 140 to 175 cm (4'7" to 5'9") in females; shoulder height is about 123 cm (4') in males and 100 cm (3'3") in females. The tail length is 70 to 100 cm (2'3" to 3'3").[5] The tail ends in a hairy tuft. The tuft conceals a spine, approximately 5 mm long, formed of the final sections of tail bone fused together. The lion is the only felid to have tuffed tail and the function of the tuft and spine are unknown.[6] In the wild, lions live for around 10–14 years, while in captivity they can live over 20 years.

The coloration varies from light buff to yellowish, reddish or dark ochraceous brown. The colour of the manes varies from blond to black. The underparts are generally brighter. The tail tuft is black.

Manes

Thermographic image of a lion in wintertime

Thermographic image of a lion in wintertime

In the past, scientists believed that the "distinct" subspecific status of some subspecies could be justified by their external morphology, like the size of their mane. This morphology was used to identify them, like the Barbary lion and Cape Lion. However, now it is known that various extrinsic factors influence the colour and size of a lion's mane, like the ambient temperature.[7] The cooler ambient temperature in European and North American zoos, for example, can result in a heavy mane. Therefore, the heavy mane is an inappropriate marker for identifying subspecies.[8][9]

Maneless lions have been reported in Senegal and Tsavo-National Park. As well as having an inherited component, the presence, absence and degree of mane is also associated with sexual maturity and testosterone production. Castrated lions have minimal manes. The original male white lion from Timbavati was also maneless. Manelessness is also found in inbred lion populations; inbreeding also results in poor fertility. A heavy mane may provide an indicator of a lion's genetic and physical health. It may also afford him some protection in fights. In some animal species, females show a preference for males with better outward displays of fertility and vigour. It is possible that lionesses more actively solicit mating with heavily maned lions in prides led by a coalition of 2 or 3 males, though there seem to be no published studies.

Evolution

The oldest fossil record of cat, which strongly resembles a lion, is known from Laetoli in Tanzania and is perhaps 3.5 million years old. Some scientists identify the material as Panthera leo. However, these records are not well-substantiated, and all that can be said is that they pertain to a Panthera-like felid. The oldest confirmed records of Panthera leo in Africa are about 2 Ma younger.[10]

700,000 years ago, Panthera leo appeared in Europe for the first time with the subspecies Panthera leo fossilis at Isernia in Italy. From this lion derived the later Cave lion (Panthera leo spelea), which appeared about 300,000 years ago. During the upper Pleistocene the lion spread to North and South America, and developed into Panthera leo atrox, the American lion.[11]

Lions were common in northern Eurasia and America during the upper Pleistocene, but died out there at the end of the last glaciation, about 10,000 years ago.

Taxonomy

Subspecies

 

Asiatic Lion Panthera leo persica, name MOTI, born in Helsinki Zoo (Finland) October 1994, arrived Bristol Zoo (England) January 1996. The Gir Forest in India is the natural home of the Asiatic lion, but this animal was born in captivity.

Asiatic Lion Panthera leo persica, name MOTI, born in Helsinki Zoo (Finland) October 1994, arrived Bristol Zoo (England) January 1996. The Gir Forest in India is the natural home of the Asiatic lion, but this animal was born in captivity.

 

Male lion showing his teeth to the crowds prior to feeding time at the Melbourne Zoo

Male lion showing his teeth to the crowds prior to feeding time at the Melbourne Zoo

The major differences between lion subspecies are location, mane appearance, size and distribution. However, some of the forms listed below are debatable. Genetic evidence suggests that all modern lions derived from one common ancestor only circa 55,000 years ago. Mitochondrial variation in recent African lions is modest, which suggests that all sub-Saharan lions could be considered a single subspecies, possibly divided in two main-clades – one to the west of the Great Rift Valley and the other to the east. For example, lions from Tsavo (East Kenya) differ genetically hardly from lions in Transvaal (South Africa), but differ considerable from those in the Aberdare Range in Western Kenya.[12] [13]

Most scientists today recognise subspecies (not all named here are considered valid by all scientists).[14]

Besides these subspecies there are also some prehistoric ones. [15]

1. The Marozi, a spotted lion, is sometimes believed to be a distinct subspecies (Panthera leo maculatus), but may be an adult lion that has retained its juvenile spotted pattern. If it was a subspecies in its own right, rather than a small number of aberrantly colored individuals, it has been extinct since 1931. A less likely identity is a natural leopard/lion hybrid commonly known as a leopon.

 

 

 

Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lion&action=history

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