The African lion (Panthera leo) was as soon as defined in Samuel Johnson’s Thesaurus of the English Language (1755) as “the fiercest and most magnanimous of the 4 footed beasts”. This certainly proves out with these splendid felines! It is quite clear that lions are remarkable animals, and below we get to know them a bit far better by looking at 15 facts regarding them:
African lions are the largest of the African felines
(second largest in the family Felidae, with the tiger being the largest). Men can reach a shoulder elevation of around 1.2 metres and also consider around 150– 225 kg (av. 189kg). Females are around 1 metre in shoulder elevation, and also consider in between 110-152kg (av. 126kg).
African lions have a wide environment
and can live nearly everywhere– from open forests, thick shrub, scrub and grass complexes, even penetrating deep into deserts along watercourses– though do not expect to locate them in rain forests. Worldwide, lions exist in Asia and in sub-Saharan Africa, though history reveals that a long period of time ago lions also lived in parts of southwest Asia and also north Africa. Check out the most effective places to see wild lions in Africa.
The colour of a lion’s layer varies from region to area
and also within populaces. Nevertheless, it is located that lions that live in locations where it is either cooler or have greater humidity degrees tend to have darker hair– such as the desert-adapted lions in Namibia as well as the black-maned lions of the Kalahari. You also get white lions, but these are not real albinos however are instead hereditary variations with highly minimized coloring.
Lion couple in strong wind in Etosha National forest, Namibia
A tranquil lion couple in strong wind in Etosha National Park, Namibia © Johan J. Botha (Professional Photographer of the Year 2018 participant).
- Speaking of desert-adapted lions. These lions are known for their marvelous size and also capability to make it through the severe desert setting. They have longer legs and also leaner bodies than ‘regular’ lions, and also are built for endurance. Due to the fact that prey is thin in the desert areas, lions need to browse far and wide for food, and live off smaller sized victim, such as antelope, computer mice as well as birds. The lions have a stronger resistance to thirst and also can go with up to 2 weeks without alcohol consumption water (they rely on their prey’s blood for moisture). Look at a magnificent image gallery of the iconic desert lions of Namibia.
- When it pertains to claws, lions have four on their back feet, but 5 on the front where the dew claw is located. The dew claw does not show in their spoor (foot print), as well as imitates a thumb that is made use of to hold down victim.
Close up of the front left paw of a lion in Samburu National Book, Kenya.
Close of the front left paw of a lion in Samburu National Reserve, Kenya © Jaymin Patel (Digital Photographer of the Year 2018 entrant).
- Upon closer examination you will see that lions have round students, rather than upright slits that are discovered in domestic cats. Having students that are vertical slits are handy for felines that are on the prowl for tiny victim as well as require to be able to focus plainly on the small stuff. Nonetheless, bigger felines such as lions usually hunt larger victim, so there is unlikely to be a substantial benefit to having slit pupils. Having round students additionally permits a lot more light to filter into the eye during the night, giving the lion much better night vision.
- When it come to eyes, lion cubs are birthed with blue eyes that transform to amber or brown when around the age of 2 to 3 months.
The African lion (Panthera leo) was as soon as defined in Samuel Johnson’s Thesaurus of the English Language (1755) as “the fiercest and most magnanimous of the 4 footed beasts”. This certainly proves out with these splendid felines! It is quite clear that lions are remarkable animals, and below we get to know them a bit far better by looking at 15 facts regarding them:
- African lions are the largest of the African felines (second largest in the family Felidae, with the tiger being the largest). Men can reach a shoulder elevation of around 1.2 metres and also consider around 150– 225 kg (av. 189kg). Females are around 1 metre in shoulder elevation, and also consider in between 110-152kg (av. 126kg).
- African lions have a wide environment, and can live nearly everywhere– from open forests, thick shrub, scrub and grass complexes, even penetrating deep into deserts along watercourses– though do not expect to locate them in rain forests. Worldwide, lions exist in Asia and in sub-Saharan Africa, though history reveals that a long period of time ago lions also lived in parts of southwest Asia and also north Africa. Check out the most effective places to see wild lions in Africa.
- The colour of a lion’s layer varies from region to area, and also within populaces. Nevertheless, it is located that lions that live in locations where it is either cooler or have greater humidity degrees tend to have darker hair– such as the desert-adapted lions in Namibia as well as the black-maned lions of the Kalahari. You also get white lions, but these are not real albinos however are instead hereditary variations with highly minimized coloring.
Lion couple in strong wind in Etosha National forest, Namibia
A tranquil lion couple in strong wind in Etosha National Park, Namibia © Johan J. Botha (Professional Photographer of the Year 2018 participant).
- Speaking of desert-adapted lions. These lions are known for their marvelous size and also capability to make it through the severe desert setting. They have longer legs and also leaner bodies than ‘regular’ lions, and also are built for endurance. Due to the fact that prey is thin in the desert areas, lions need to browse far and wide for food, and live off smaller sized victim, such as antelope, computer mice as well as birds. The lions have a stronger resistance to thirst and also can go with up to 2 weeks without alcohol consumption water (they rely on their prey’s blood for moisture). Look at a magnificent image gallery of the iconic desert lions of Namibia.
- When it pertains to claws, lions have four on their back feet, but 5 on the front where the dew claw is located. The dew claw does not show in their spoor (foot print), as well as imitates a thumb that is made use of to hold down victim.
Close up of the front left paw of a lion in Samburu National Book, Kenya.
Close of the front left paw of a lion in Samburu National Reserve, Kenya © Jaymin Patel (Digital Photographer of the Year 2018 entrant).
- Upon closer examination you will see that lions have round students, rather than upright slits that are discovered in domestic cats. Having students that are vertical slits are handy for felines that are on the prowl for tiny victim as well as require to be able to focus plainly on the small stuff. Nonetheless, bigger felines such as lions usually hunt larger victim, so there is unlikely to be a substantial benefit to having slit pupils. Having round students additionally permits a lot more light to filter into the eye during the night, giving the lion much better night vision.
- When it come to eyes, lion cubs are birthed with blue eyes that transform to amber or brown when around the age of 2 to 3 months.
African lions are the largest of the African felines (second biggest in the family members Felidae, with the tiger being the largest). Men can get to a shoulder height of around 1.2 metres and weigh around 150– 225 kg (av. 189kg). Women are around 1 metre in shoulder height, as well as consider in between 110-152kg (av. 126kg).
African lions have a vast habitat, as well as can live virtually all over– from open woodlands, thick bush, scrub as well as lawn complexes, also passing through deep right into deserts along gutters– though do not anticipate to locate them in jungles. Around the world, lions exist in Asia and in sub-Saharan Africa, though background reveals that a long time ago lions also lived in components of southwest Asia and north Africa. Read about the very best areas to see wild lions in Africa.
The colour of a lion’s coat varies from region to area, as well as within populations. However, it is located that lions that stay in areas where it is either cooler or have greater moisture levels have a tendency to have darker hair– such as the desert-adapted lions in Namibia and also the black-maned lions of the Kalahari. You likewise obtain white lions, but these are not true albinos however are rather genetic versions with strongly reduced pigmentation.
Lion pair in strong wind in Etosha National forest, Namibia
A stage whisper lion couple in strong wind in Etosha National forest, Namibia © Johan J. Botha (Professional Photographer of the Year 2018 participant).
- Speaking of desert-adapted lions. These lions are recognized for their stunning size and capability to survive the severe desert environment. They have longer legs and leaner bodies than ‘routine’ lions, and also are built for endurance. Due to the fact that victim is sparse in the desert regions, lions have to browse far and wide for food, as well as live off smaller victim, such as antelope, computer mice and also birds. The lions have a more powerful resistance to thirst as well as can go with up to two weeks without drinking water (they rely upon their victim’s blood for wetness). Have a look at a stunning image gallery of the renowned desert lions of Namibia.
- When it comes to claws, lions have four on their back feet, but 5 on the front where the dew claw is located. The dew claw does not show in their spoor (foot print), and also acts like a thumb that is made use of to hold back victim.
Close up of the front left paw of a lion in Samburu National Get, Kenya.
Close up of the front left paw of a lion in Samburu National Book, Kenya © Jaymin Patel (Professional Photographer of the Year 2018 participant).
- Upon closer evaluation you will see that lions have round pupils, rather than upright slits that are discovered in residential cats. Having pupils that are upright slits are handy for pet cats that get on the prowl for little prey and need to be able to concentrate plainly on the tiny stuff. Nevertheless, bigger felines such as lions usually quest bigger prey, so there is unlikely to be a significant benefit to having actually slit students. Having round students also permits much more light to filter right into the eye at night, providing the lion better night vision.
- On eyes, lion cubs are born with blue eyes that transform to amber or brown when around the age of 2 to 3 months.