Lions Are Very Cool Cats

“The Lion (Panthera leo) is the second-largest cat in the world, following the Tiger. It is a species in the cat family ‘Felidae’, which includes Tigers, Leopards, and Jaguars.

Nikon D200; f/5; 1/60 sec; ISO 400; 220 mm

The lion is visibly different from most other cats in that they has a muscular, deep chest with a short but rounded head. The neck is reduced, and they have rounded ears plus a hairy tuft at the end of their tails. The male is easy to distinguish from the female because he has a prominent mane.

Lions are diurnal, meaning they typically hunt during the day, but they can adapt to hunt at night if necessary.

Nikon D200; f/4.8; 1/90 sec; ISO 400; 180 mm

The African lion is actually the most social of all big cats on the planet. A pride can include up to 30 animals, but typically consists of 10-15, with five or six females, their cubs (both male and female), and two males who breed with the females in the group.

Young males then live and roam in small groups (often with brothers and cousins) until they find another pride that they can take over and breed with females. This will frequently lead to fights with existing males in the pride.

When a male lion takes over a pride, it can kill all the lion cubs to bring the pride’s females into heat again.

Lionesses can turn on and kill older, previously dominant males in a pride.

Nikon D200; f/9; 1/320 sec; ISO 400; 155mm

Lions have a roar that can carry up to 5 miles.”

Facts as reported by Fact Animal.