Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species for a Lion
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An African panthera leo, Panthera leo, at the Okavango Delta, Botswana. © 2000 Greg and Marybeth Dimijian
Introduction
Constitute predominantly in Africa, lions are the largest felines in the earth, and are oft chosen the "Male monarch of the Beasts". Male lions are distinguishable from a considerable distance by their mane, which can be used as an indication of age, diet, and the climate of their habitat. Their big body mass provides an advantage in taking down prey, along with their powerful jaws and sharp claws.
Lions are social animals that chase and live in groups chosen prides. The males have footling parental investment toward the cubs, and males may even commit infanticide against suckling cubs that are not their own. There is usually violent contest for food because successful hunts are rare and members of the pride tend to gorge themselves when food is available. The ruling male lion will consume his fill up, and so the other males, females, and finally the cubs. The competition for nutrient contributes to the high mortality rate of the cubs.
Classification
Lions vest to the genus Panthera which contains well known animals such as the tiger, leopard, and jaguar. Within the genus Panthera, the lion is farther classifed every bit the species Panthera leo. The total scientific classification is equally follows:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Carnivora
- Family: Felidae
- Genus: Panthera
- Species: Panthera leo
The following chart shows the dissimilar species in the genus Panthera also as the 16 subspecies of Panthera leo.
| Common Name | Species | Subspecies |
|---|---|---|
| (An extinct leopard) | Panthera crassidens  | |
| European jaguar | Panthera gombaszoegensis | |
| Lion | Panthera leo |
|
| Jaguar | Panthera onca | |
| (An extinct true cat) | Panthera palaeosinensis | |
| (An extinct leopard) | Panthera pardoides | |
| Leopard | Panthera pardus | |
| (An extinct cat) | Panthera schaubi | |
| (An extinct cat) | Panthera schreuderi | |
| Tiger | Panthera tigris | |
| Tuscany lion | Panthera toscana | |
| (An extinct cat) | Panthera youngi |
Habitat and Behaviour
Lions live in a broad range of habitats including plains, grasslands, forests, and even semi-deserts. They can also alive at high altitudes, with a population spotted living at an distance of 4,240 m in Ethiopia.
Groups of lions, chosen prides, can range anywhere between 2 to 40 lions with the average being 13 lions. They are composed of both sexes with the males having more potency. Prides are needed equally they benefit lions by increasing their hunting efficiency too as defending their territories against other lions and animals. Lions greet each other by rubbing their heads together with their tails looped in the air every bit they moan.
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Female and male person Lion at Masai Mara, Kenya, © 2006 Richard Brooks
Morphology
The length of a lion can range between 205-350 cm. They can weigh between 265-550 pounds and grow up to 109 cm tall. Both male person and female lions have tawny-colored fur, but it tin can also vary in color from yellow greyness to night brown. They possess powerful jaws as well as forelimbs that are stronger relative to their hind limbs.
Lions are sexually dimorphic, meaning there are morphological (concrete) differences betwixt the two sexes. Male lions develop manes as they begin to mature merely females do not. The mane is an indicator of the panthera leo's physical condition, such as nutrition, and it tin can exist used to intimidate other lions likewise as attract females. Research by B. D. Patterson suggests mane development in lions is afflicted by climate. It was found that lions living on higher elevated grounds possessed a more than extensive mane compared to lions living in hot and dry out places. The mass of the lion and the evolution of the mane too seem to have a direct correlation. Furthermore, lions held in captivity mostly have a larger mane compared to wild lions, which is probably due to better nutrition too as climatic furnishings.
Predation and Conservation
With lions being violent carnivores, they accept very few predators, which include humans, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas. Lions compete with the other big cats for food, and hyenas are known to kill king of beasts cubs or weak developed lions.
Humans on the other hand are a big trouble for lions as poaching has decreased the king of beasts population over fourth dimension. It is estimated that only 23,500 lions remain in African protected areas compared to 100,000 a quarter century before. Due to the decline in population, many African countries have protected areas to restrict lions from beingness poached.
Dietary Information and Hunting
Lions at Serengeti National Park, Tanzania investigating a cape pangolin rolled into a defensive ball. © 2006
Female panthera leo at Masai Mara, Tanzania. © Robert Moncrieff
Female lion roaring, © 2006 Mila Zinkova
Lions chase various animals and usually hunt in prides. Prides tin have different nutrient preferences from ane another. Both sexes besides have different preferred preys, with females hunting smaller prey such every bit zebras and males hunting larger prey such equally buffalos. Their nutrition tin be equanimous of zebras, buffalos, wildebeests, as well as small-scale animals such as birds, fish, and rodents. Hunting efficiency of an private lion is about 17% but around 30% in prides; this is probably 1 of the reasons why lions are commonly in prides.
Lions ordinarily hunt at night in groups comprised of females, since the manes of the males draw too much attention. While experts at stealth and ambushes, the lions are quite a bit slower than the prey they hunt to the extent that some prey do not even run away at their maximum speed. For this reason, lions utilise the darkness and bushes to conceal their presence, lying in wait most water holes and downwind from their casualty to avoid beingness detected by olfactory property. Although they can sprint up to 60km/h for curt bursts, they are frequently unsuccessful because the prey they hunt is much faster.
Reproduction
Lions can reproduce all twelvemonth round, but the female rut period, when the female is in rut, peaks in the rainy season and lasts for 4 days. During the rut menses, the lioness will mate several hundred times in total. Usually, at that place is no fighting over females inside a pride, as males will mate with many females. Takeover, or the attacking of one pride by another pride, occurs approximately every two years and is fought by the males. The winner volition exist able to mate with the females, ensuring that his genes will exist passed on to the side by side generation.
Gestation period is three to 4 months, with the female giving birth to a litter of two to four cubs. After giving birth, the female will not mate for about two years. It is the female's responsibleness to raise the cubs and to wean them between 7 and ten months of age. At about 1 twelvemonth, the cubs start learning how to hunt, perfecting their technique by the time they are two years onetime. At this time, males are driven from the pride.
Miscellaneous Information
- The panthera leo'due south mane will darken over time to almost black in colour.
- Lions will only kill if they are hungry. If they are not out to kill, their casualty will sense this and will often ignore them.
- Male person lions do not have any parental responsibility.
- 80% of cubs will die earlier reaching two years old, when they become skilled hunters, due to the vehement competition for food.
- Males who become the ruling leader after a takeover will impale the suckling cubs, causing the females to go into rut and mate with the new ruling leader of the pride.
- Ovulation is stimulated by mating.
- The mating of lions will finish abruptly when the female shows aggression towards the male person by displaying fangs and claws, causing the male to bound away earlier he is hurt.
- Lions can become infected past FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus), much similar the human HIV. In a South Africa park, 92% of lions tested were infected by it. Although it does non seem to touch lions greatly, FIV can impale domestic cats.
- Leo the lion is a mascot for a Hollywood flick studio.
References
one. Patterson, B.D, et al. (2006). DEVELOPMENTAL EFFECTS OF CLIMATE ON THE King of beasts�S MANE (PANTHERA LEO). Journal of Mammalogy, 87(2):193�200.
two. Barnett, R, et al. (2006). The origin, electric current diversity and future conservation of the modernistic lion (Panthera leo). Proceedings of the Imperial Society B: Biological Sciences, 273(1598): 2119�2125.
three. Patterson, B.D. (2007). On the Nature and Significance of Variability in Lions(King of beasts). Evol Biol (2007) 34:55�sixty.
iv. Luo SJ, Kim JH, Johnson Nosotros, Walt Jvd, Martenson J, et al. (2004). Phylogeography and Genetic Beginnings of Tigers (Panthera tigris). PLoS Biology Vol. 2, No. 12, e442 doi:x.1371/journal.pbio.0020442.
5. International Club for Endangered Cats. (2001). Lion. Retrieved April 21, 2008, from http://www.wildcatconservation.org/Lion_(Panthera_leo).html
half dozen. Wilson, D.Eastward. & Reeder D. G. (2005) Mammal Species of the Globe: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed), Johns Hopkins University Press.
vii. Rebecca Postanowicz. Lion (Panthera leo). Retrieved April 25, 2008, from http://www.lioncrusher.com/animal.asp?creature=59
8. Natural Loftier Safaris. How Lions Hunt. Retrieved April 21, 2008, from http://www.naturalhighsafaris.com/cognition/naturalhistory/howlionshunt.html
9. Schaller, George B. (1972). The Serengeti lion: A study of predator-prey relations. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
10. Harrington, E. & P. Myers. (2004). Panthera leo. Retrieved April 27, 2008, from http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Panthera_leo.html.
eleven. Macdonald, David (1984). The Encyclopedia of Mammals. New York: Facts on File, 31
12. Patterson B.D. (2005). Living with Lions in Tsavo. travel news & lifestyle No. 129, 28-31.
About This Page
This page was made for the Origins 2FF3 course, the Origins and Evolution of Organisms, taught by Dr. Jonathon Stone, Acquaintance Director of the Origins Establish at McMaster University.
Ye Yuan 
McMaster University
McMaster Academy
Correspondence regarding this folio should be directed to Ye Yuan at and Yue Long Run a risk Chan at
Page copyright © 2008 Ye Yuan and
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