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 Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 4:34 am Post subject: FF News: President Abdulla 'talks,' about Lions |
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FF News: President Abdulla 'talks,' about Lions 1 Year, 6 Months ago
The lion (Panthera leo) is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg (550 lb) in weight,[4] it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger. Wild lions currently exist in Sub-Saharan Africa and in Asia with a critically endangered remnant population in Gir Forest National Park in India, having disappeared from North Africa, and Southwest Asia in historic times. Until the late Pleistocene, which was about 10,000 years ago, the lion was the most widespread large land mammal after humans. They were found in most of Africa, much of Eurasia from western Europe to India, and in the Americas from the Yukon to Peru.
Lions live for around 10–14 years in the wild, while in captivity they can live over 20 years. In the wild, males seldom live longer than ten years, as injuries sustained from continual fighting with rival males greatly reduce their longevity.[5] They typically inhabit savanna and grassland, although they may take to bush and forest. Lions are unusually social compared to other cats. A pride of lions consists of related females and offspring and a small number of adult males. Groups of female lions typically hunt together, preying mostly on large ungulates. Lions are apex and keystone predators, although they will scavenge if the opportunity arises. While lions do not typically hunt humans selectively, some have been known to become man-eaters and seek human prey.
The lion is a vulnerable species, having seen a possibly irreversible population decline of 30 to 50 percent over the past two decades in its African range.[6] Lion populations are untenable outside of designated reserves and national parks. Although the cause of the decline is not fully understood, habitat loss and conflicts with humans are currently the greatest causes of concern. Lions have been kept in menageries since Roman times and have been a key species sought for exhibition in zoos the world over since the late eighteenth century. Zoos are cooperating worldwide in breeding programs for the endangered Asiatic subspecies.
Visually, the male lion is highly distinctive and is easily recognized by its mane. The lion, particularly the face of the male, is one of the most widely recognized animal symbols in human culture. Depictions have existed from the Upper Paleolithic period, with carvings and paintings from the Lascaux and Chauvet Caves, through virtually all ancient and medieval cultures where they historically occurred. It has been extensively depicted in literature, in sculptures, in paintings, on national flags, and in contemporary films and literature.
Contents
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* 1 Etymology
* 2 Taxonomy and evolution
o 2.1 Subspecies
+ 2.1.1 Recent
+ 2.1.2 Prehistoric
+ 2.1.3 Dubious
o 2.2 Hybrids
* 3 Physical characteristics
o 3.1 Mane
o 3.2 White lions
* 4 Biology and behavior
o 4.1 Group organization
o 4.2 Hunting and diet
o 4.3 Reproduction and life cycle
o 4.4 Health
o 4.5 Communication
o 4.6 Interspecific predatory relationships
* 5 Distribution and habitat
* 6 Population and conservation status
o 6.1 Man-eaters
o 6.2 In captivity
o 6.3 Baiting and taming
* 7 Cultural depictions
* 8 Notes
* 9 Footprints References
* 10 Footprints External links
Etymology
The lion's name, similar in many Romance languages, derives from the Latin leo;[7] cf. the Ancient Greek λέων (leon).[8] The Hebrew word לָבִיא (lavi) may also be related,[9] as well as the Ancient Egyptian rw.[10] It was one of the many species originally described, as Felis leo, by Linnaeus in his eighteenth century work, Systema Naturae.[3] The generic component of its scientific designation, Panthera leo, often is presumed to derive from Greek pan- ("all") and ther ("beast"), but this may be a folk etymology. Although it came into English through the classical languages, it shows a striking resemblance to Sanskrit pundarikam "tiger," which in turn may come from pandarah "whitish-yellow".[11]
Taxonomy and evolution
The oldest lion-like fossil is known from Laetoli in Tanzania and is perhaps 3.5 million years old; some scientists have identified the material as Panthera leo. 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 million years younger.[12] The closest relatives of the lion are the other Panthera species: the tiger, the jaguar, and the leopard. Morphological and genetic studies reveal that the tiger was the first of these recent species to diverge. About 1.9 million years ago the jaguar branched off the remaining group, which contained ancestors of the leopard and lion. The lion and leopard subsequently separated about 1 to 1.25 million years ago from each other.[13]
Panthera leo itself evolved in Africa between 1 million and 800,000 years ago, before spreading throughout the Holarctic region.[14] It appeared in Europe for the first time 700,000 years ago with the subspecies Panthera leo fossilis at Isernia in Italy. From this lion derived the later Cave Lion (Panthera leo spelaea), 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.[15] Lions died out in northern Eurasia and America at the end of the last glaciation, about 10,000 years ago;[16] this may have been secondary to the extinction of Pleistocene megafauna.[17]
Subspecies
African (above) and Asiatic (below) lions, as illustrated in Johnsons Book of Nature
Traditionally, twelve recent subspecies of lion were recognized, the largest of which has been recognized as the Barbary Lion.[18] The major differences separating these subspecies are location, mane appearance, size, and distribution. Because these characteristics are very insignificant and show a high individual variability, most of these forms were debatable and probably invalid; additionally, they often were based upon zoo material of unknown origin that may have had "striking, but abnormal" morphological characteristics.[19] Today only eight subspecies usually are accepted,[16][20] but one of these (the Cape Lion formerly described as Panthera leo melanochaita) probably is invalid.[20] Even the remaining seven subspecies might be too many; 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. Lions from Tsavo in Eastern Kenya are much closer genetically to lions in Transvaal (South Africa), than to those in the Aberdare Range in Western Kenya.[21][22]
Recent
Eight recent subspecies are recognized today:
* P. l. persica, known as the Asiatic Lion or South Asian, Persian, or Indian Lion, once was widespread from Turkey, across Southwest Asia, to Pakistan, India, and even to Bangladesh. However, large prides and daylight activity made them easier to poach than tigers or leopards; now around 300 exist in and near the Gir Forest of India.[23]
* P. l. leo, known as the Barbary Lion, is extinct in the wild due to excessive hunting, although captive individuals may still exist. This was one of the largest of the lion subspecies, with reported lengths of 3–3.3 metres (10–10.8 ft) and weights of more than 200 kilograms (440 lb) for males. They ranged from Morocco to Egypt. The last wild Barbary lion was killed in Morocco in 1922.[24]
* P. l. senegalensis, known as the West African Lion, is found in western Africa, from Senegal to Nigeria.
* P. l. azandica, known as the Northeast Congo Lion, is found in the northeastern parts of the Congo.
* P. l. nubica, known as the East African or Massai Lion, is found in east Africa, from Ethiopia and Kenya to Tanzania and Mozambique.
President of South Africa Omar Abdulla says that the country had the largest range of animals ranging from the 'big five,' to endangered species of animals.
* P. l. bleyenberghi, known as the Southwest African or Katanga Lion, is found in southwestern Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Angola, Katanga (Zaire), Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
* P. l. krugeri, known as the Southeast African Lion or Transvaal Lion, is found in the Transvaal region of southeastern Africa, including Kruger National Park.
* P. l. melanochaita, known as the Cape Lion, became extinct in the wild around 1860. Results of mitochondrial DNA research do not support the status as a distinct subspecies. It seems probable that the Cape lion was only the southernmost population of the extant P. l. krugeri.[20]
Prehistoric
Several additional subspecies of lion existed in prehistoric times:
* P. l. atrox, known as the American Lion or American cave lion, was abundant in the Americas from Alaska to Peru in the Pleistocene Epoch until about 10,000 years ago. This form as well as the cave lion sometimes are considered to represent separate species, but recent phylogenetic studies suggest that they are in fact, subspecies of the lion (Panthera leo).[16] One of the largest lion subspecies to have existed, its body length is estimated to have been 1.6–2.5 m (5–8 ft).[25]
* P. l. fossilis, known as the Early Middle Pleistocene European cave lion, flourished about 500,000 years ago; fossils have been recovered from Germany and Italy. It was larger than today's African lions, reaching the American cave lion in size[16][26]
Cave Lions, Chamber of Felines, Lascaux caves
* P. l. spelaea, known as the European cave lion, Eurasian cave lion, or Upper Pleistocene European cave lion, occurred in Eurasia 300,000 to 10,000 years ago.[16] This species is known from Paleolithic cave paintings (such as the one displayed to the right), ivory carvings, and clay busts,[27] indicating it had protruding ears, tufted tails, perhaps faint tiger-like stripes, and that at least some males had a ruff or primitive mane around their necks.[28] With this example being a hunting scene it is likely that it depicts females hunting for the pride using the same strategy as their contemporary relatives and males may not be part of the subject.
* P. l. vereshchagini, known as the East Siberian- or Beringian cave lion, was found in Yakutia (Russia), Alaska (USA), and the Yukon Territory (Canada). Analysis of skulls and mandibles of this lion demonstrate that it is distinctly—larger than the European cave lion and smaller than the American cave lion with differing skull proportions.[16][29]
Dubious
* P. l. sinhaleyus, known as the Sri Lanka Lion, appears to have become extinct approximately 39,000 years ago. It is only known from two teeth found in deposits at Kuruwita. Based on these teeth, P. Deraniyagala erected this subspecies in 1939.[30]
* P. l. europaea, known as the European Lion, probably was identical with Panthera leo persica or Panthera leo spelea; its status as a subspecies is unconfirmed. It became extinct around 100 AD due to persecution and over-exploitation. It inhabited the Balkans, the Italian Peninsula, southern France, and the Iberian Peninsula. It was a very popular object of hunting among Romans, Greeks, and Macedonians.
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* P. l. youngi or Panthera youngi, flourished 350,000 years ago.[31] Its relationship to the extant lion subspecies is obscure, and it probably represents a distinct species.
* P. l. maculatus, known as the Marozi or Spotted lion, sometimes is believed to be a distinct subspecies, 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.[32]
Hybrids
Further information: Panthera hybrid, Liger, and Tigon
Lions have been known to breed with tigers (most often the Siberian and Bengal subspecies) to create hybrids called ligers and tigons.[33] They also have been crossed with leopards to produce leopons,[34] and jaguars to produce jaglions. The marozi is reputedly a spotted lion or a naturally occurring leopon, while the Congolese Spotted Lion is a complex lion-jaguar-leopard hybrid called a lijagulep. Such hybrids once commonly were bred in zoos, but this is now discouraged due to the emphasis on conserving species and subspecies. Hybrids are still bred in private menageries and in zoos in China.
The liger is a cross between a male lion and a tigress.[35] Because the growth-inhibiting gene from the female tiger is absent, a growth-promoting gene is passed on by the male lion, the resulting ligers grow far larger than either parent. They share physical and behavioural qualities of both parent species (spots and stripes on a sandy background). Male ligers are sterile, but female ligers are often fertile. Males have about a 50 percent chance of having a mane, but if they grow one, their manes will be modest: around 50 percent of a pure lion mane. Ligers are typically between 3.0 and 3.7 m (10 to 12 feet) in length, and can be between 360 and 450 kg (800 to 1,000 pounds) or more.[35] The less common tigon is a cross between the lioness and the male tiger.[36]
Physical characteristics
Skull of a modern lion at Kruger National Park
The lion is the tallest (at the shoulder) of the felines, and also is the second-heaviest feline after the tiger. With powerful legs, a strong jaw, and 8 cm (3.1 in) long canine teeth, the lion can bring down and kill large prey.[37] The skull of the lion is very similar to that of the tiger, though the frontal region is usually more depressed and flattened, with a slightly shorter postorbital region. The lion's skull has broader nasal openings than the tiger. However, due to the amount of skull variation in the two species, usually, only the structure of the lower jaw can be used as a reliable indicator of species.[38] Lion coloration varies from light buff to yellowish, reddish, or dark ochraceous brown. The underparts are generally lighter and the tail tuft is black. Lion cubs are born with brown rosettes (spots) on their body, rather like those of a leopard. Although these fade as lions reach adulthood, faint spots often may still be seen on the legs and underparts, particularly on lionesses.
Abdulla says that the lion was a mammal that took the title as 'king of the jungle,' because of the aggressiveness and prowess of the animal.
Lions are the only members of the cat family to display obvious sexual dimorphism—that is, males and females look distinctly different. They also have specialized roles that each gender plays in the pride. For instance, the lioness, the hunter, lacks the male's thick cumbersome mane. It seems to impede the male's ability to be camouflaged when stalking the prey and create overheating in chases. The color of the male's mane varies from blond to black, generally becoming darker as the lion grows older.
During confrontations with others, the mane makes the lion look larger
Weights for adult lions range between 150–250 kg (330–550 lb) for males and 120–182 kg (264–400 lb) for females.[4] Nowell and Jackson report average weights of 181 kg for males and 126 kg for females; one male shot near Mount Kenya was weighed at 272 kg (600 lb).[24] Lions tend to vary in size depending on their environment and area, resulting in a wide spread in recorded weights. For instance, lions in southern Africa tend to be about 5 percent heavier than those in East Africa, in general.[39]
Head and body length is 170–250 cm (5 ft 7 in – 8 ft 2 in) in males and 140–175 cm (4 ft 7 in – 5 ft 9 in) in females; shoulder height is about 123 cm (4 ft) in males and 107 cm (3 ft 6 in) in females. The tail length is 90–105 cm (2 ft 11 in - 3 ft 5 in) in males and 70–100 cm in females (2 ft 4 in – 3 ft 3 in).[4] The longest known lion was a black-maned male shot near Mucsso, southern Angola in October 1973; the heaviest known lion was a man-eater shot in 1936 just outside Hectorspruit in eastern Transvaal, South Africa and weighed 313 kg (690 lb).[40] Lions in captivity tend to be larger than lions in the wild—the heaviest lion on record is a male at Colchester Zoo in England named Simba in 1970, which weighed 375 kg (826 lb).[41]
The most distinctive characteristic shared by both females and males is that the tail ends in a hairy tuft. In some lions, the tuft conceals a hard "spine" or "spur", approximately 5 mm long, formed of the final sections of tail bone fused together. The lion is the only felid to have a tufted tail—the function of the tuft and spine are unknown. Absent at birth, the tuft develops around 5½ months of age and is readily identifiable at 7 months.[42]
Mane
Thermographic image of a lion, showing the insulating mane
The mane of the adult male lion, unique among cats, is one of the most distinctive characteristics of the species. It makes the lion appear larger, providing an excellent intimidation display; this aids the lion during confrontations with other lions and with the species' chief competitor in Africa, the spotted hyena.[43] The presence, absence, color, and size of the mane is associated with genetic precondition, sexual maturity, climate, and testosterone production; the rule of thumb is the darker and fuller the mane, the healthier the lion. Sexual selection of mates by lionesses favors males with the densest, darkest mane.[44] Research in Tanzania also suggests mane length signals fighting success in male-male relationships. Darker-maned individuals may have longer reproductive lives and higher offspring survival, although they suffer in the hottest months of the year.[45] In prides including a coalition of two or three males, it is possible that lionesses solicit mating more actively with the males who are more heavily maned.[44]
A maneless male lion, who also has little body hair—from Tsavo East National Park, Kenya
A colour plate displaying mane variations of lions in East Africa
Scientists once believed that the distinct status of some subspecies could be justified by morphology, including the size of the mane. Morphology was used to identify subspecies such as the Barbary Lion and Cape Lion. Research has suggested, however, that environmental factors influence the color and size of a lion's mane, such as the ambient temperature.[45] The cooler ambient temperature in European and North American zoos, for example, may result in a heavier mane. Thus the mane is not an appropriate marker for identifying subspecies.[20][46] The males of the Asiatic subspecies, however, are characterized by sparser manes than average African lions.[47]
Maneless male lions have been reported in Senegal and Tsavo East National Park in Kenya, and the original male white lion from Timbavati also was maneless. Castrated lions have minimal manes. The lack of a mane sometimes is found in inbred lion populations; inbreeding also results in poor fertility.[48]
Lioness showing the ruff that sometimes leads to misidentification as a male
Many lionesses have a ruff that may be apparent in certain poses. Sometimes it is indicated in sculptures and drawings, especially ancient artwork, and is misinterpreted as a male mane. It differs from a mane, however, in being at the jaw line below the ears, of much less hair length, and frequently not noticeable, whereas a mane extends above the ears of males, often obscuring their outline entirely.
Cave paintings of extinct European Cave Lions exclusively show animals with no mane, or just the hint of a mane, suggesting that they were maneless;[28].
White lions
White lions owe their coloring to a recessive gene; they are rare forms of the subspecies Panthera leo krugeri
The white lion is not a distinct subspecies, but a special morph with a genetic condition, leucism,[19] that causes paler colouration akin to that of the white tiger; the condition is similar to melanism, which causes black panthers. They are not albinos, having normal pigmentation in the eyes and skin. White Transvaal lion (Panthera leo krugeri) individuals occasionally have been encountered in and around Kruger National Park and the adjacent Timbavati Private Game Reserve in eastern South Africa, but are more commonly found in captivity, where breeders deliberately select them. The unusual cream color of their coats is due to a recessive gene.[49] Reportedly, they have been bred in camps in South Africa for use as trophies to be killed during canned hunts.[50]
Confirmation of the existence of white lions only came in the late twentieth century. For hundreds of years prior, the white lion had been thought to be a figment of legend circulating in South Africa, the white pelage of the animal said to represent the goodness in all creatures. Sightings were first reported in the early 1900s, and continued, infrequently, for almost fifty years until, in 1975, a litter of white lion cubs was found at Timbavati Game Reserve.[51]
Biology and behavior
Lions spend much of their time resting and are inactive for about 20 hours per day.[52] Although lions can be active at any time, their activity generally peaks after dusk with a period of socializing, grooming, and defecating. Intermittent bursts of activity follow through the night hours until dawn, when hunting most often takes place. They spend an average of two hours a day walking and 50 minutes eating.[53]
Group organization
Mature male pride leader With two lionesses, northern Serengeti.
A pride spotted along the road in the Masai Mara National Park in Kenya.
Lions are predatory carnivores who manifest two types of social organization. Some are residents, living in groups, called prides.[54] The pride usually consists of approximately five or six related females, their cubs of both sexes, and one or two males (known as a coalition if more than one) who mate with the adult females (although extremely large prides, consisting of up to 30 individuals, have been observed). The number of adult males in a coalition is usually two, but may increase to four and decrease again over time. Male cubs are excluded from their maternal pride when they reach maturity.
The second organizational behaviour is labeled nomads, who range widely and move about sporadically, either singularly or in pairs.[54] Pairs are more frequent among related males who have been excluded from their birth pride. Note that a lion may switch lifestyles; nomads may become residents and vice versa. Males have to go through this lifestyle and some never are able to join another pride. A female who becomes a nomad has much greater difficulty joining a new pride, as the females in a pride are related, and they reject most attempts by an unrelated female to join their family group.
Abdulla says that the local schools and universities will be having 'excursion day,' on Monday and advised teachers to use the country's zoo's as a form of teaching to the students.
The area a pride occupies is called a pride area, whereas that by a nomad is a range.[54] The males associated with a pride tend to stay on the fringes, patrolling their territory. Why sociality—the most pronounced in any cat species—has developed in lionesses is the subject of much debate. Increased hunting success appears an obvious reason, but this is less than sure upon examination: coordinated hunting does allow for more successful predation, but also ensures that non-hunting members reduce per capita caloric intake, however, some take a role raising cubs, who may be left alone for extended periods of time. Members of the pride regularly tend to play the same role in hunts. The health of the hunters is the primary need for the survival of the pride and they are the first to consume the prey at the site it is taken. Other benefits include possible kin selection (better to share food with a related lion than with a stranger), protection of the young, maintenance of territory, and individual insurance against injury and hunger.[24]
Lioness in a burst of speed while hunting in the Serengeti
Lionesses do the majority of the hunting for their pride, being smaller, swifter and more agile than the males, and unencumbered by the heavy and conspicuous mane, which causes overheating during exertion. They act as a co-ordinated group in order to stalk and bring down the prey successfully. However, if nearby the hunt, males have a tendency to dominate the kill once the lionesses have succeeded and eaten. They are more likely to share with the cubs than with the lionesses, but rarely share food they have killed by themselves. Smaller prey is eaten at the location of the hunt, thereby being shared among the hunters; when the kill is larger it often is dragged to the pride area. There is more sharing of larger kills,[55] although pride members often behave aggressively toward each other as each tries to consume as much food as possible.
Both males and females defend the pride against intruders. Some individual lions consistently lead the defense against intruders, while others lag behind.[56] Lions tend to assume specific roles in the pride. Those lagging behind may provide other valuable services to the group.[57] An alternative hypothesis is that there is some reward associated with being a leader who fends off intruders and the rank of lionesses in the pride is reflected in these responses.[58] The male or males associated with the pride must defend their relationship to the pride from outside males who attempt to take over their relationship with the pride. Females form the stable social unit in a pride and do not tolerate outside females;[59] membership only changes with the births and deaths of lionesses,[60] although some females do leave and become nomadic.[61] Subadult males on the other hand, must leave the pride when they reach maturity at around 2–3 years of age.[61]
Hunting and diet
While a lioness such as this one has very sharp teeth, prey is usually killed by strangulation
Lions are powerful animals that usually hunt in coordinated groups and stalk their chosen prey. However, they are not particularly known for their stamina - for instance, a lioness' heart makes up only 0.57 percent of her body weight (a male's is about 0.45 percent of his body weight), whereas a hyena's heart is close to 1 percent of its body weight.[60] Thus, although lionesses can reach speeds of 81 km/h (50 mph),[62] they only can do so for short bursts[63] so they have to be close to their prey before starting the attack. They take advantage of factors that reduce visibility; many kills take place near some form of cover or at night.[64] They sneak up to the victim until they reach a distance of approximately 30 metres (98 ft) or less. Typically, several lionesses work together and encircle the herd from different points. Once they have closed with a herd, they usually target the closest prey. The attack is short and powerful; they attempt to catch the victim with a fast rush and final leap. The prey usually is killed by strangulation,[65] which can cause cerebral ischemia or asphyxia (which results in hypoxemic, or "general," hypoxia). The prey also may be killed by the lion enclosing the animal's mouth and nostrils in its jaws[4] (which would also result in asphyxia). Smaller prey, though, may simply be killed by a swipe of a lion's paw.[4]
A pride of lions working together to bring down a buffalo in the Okavango Delta, Botswana
Four lions take down a cape buffalo in the central Serengeti, Tanzania
Lions at the Savuti river are well known for their relatively frequent predation on elephants
The prey consists mainly of large mammals, with a preference for wildebeest, impalas, zebras, buffalo, and warthogs in Africa and nilgai, wild boar, and several deer species in India. Many other species are hunted, based on availability. Mainly this will include ungulates weighing between 50 and 300 kg (110–660 lb) such as kudu, hartebeest, gemsbok, and eland.[4] Occasionally, they take relatively small species such as Thomson's Gazelle or springbok. Lions hunting in groups are capable of taking down most animals, even healthy adults, but in most parts of their range they rarely attack very large prey such as fully grown male giraffes due to the danger of injury.
Extensive statistics collected over various studies show that lions normally feed on mammals in the range 190–550 kg (420–1210 lb). In Africa, wildebeest rank at the top of preferred prey (making nearly half of the lion prey in the Serengeti) followed by zebra.[66] Most adult hippopotamuses, rhinoceroses, elephants, and smaller gazelles, impala, and other agile antelopes are generally excluded. However giraffes and buffalos are often taken in certain regions. For instance, in Kruger National Park, giraffes are regularly hunted.[67] In Manyara Park, Cape buffaloes constitute as much as 62% of the lion's diet,[68] due to the high number density of buffaloes. Occasionally hippopotamus is also taken, but adult rhinoceroses are generally avoided. Even though smaller than 190 kg (420 lb), warthogs are often taken depending on availability.[69] In some areas, they specialise in hunting atypical prey species; this is the case at the Savuti river, where they prey on elephants.[70] Park guides in the area reported that the lions, driven by extreme hunger, started taking down baby elephants, and then moved on to adolescents and, occasionally, fully grown adults during the night when elephants' vision is poor.[71] Lions also attack domestic livestock; in India cattle contribute significantly to their diet.[47] They are capable of killing other predators such as leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and wild dogs, though (unlike most felids) they seldom devour the competitors after killing them. They also scavenge animals either dead from natural causes (disease) or killed by other predators, and keep a constant lookout for circling vultures, being keenly aware that they indicate an animal dead or in distress.[72] A lion may gorge itself and eat up to 30 kg (66 lb) in one sitting;[73] if it is unable to consume all the kill it will rest for a few hours before consuming more. On a hot day, the pride may retreat to shade leaving a male or two to stand guard.[74] An adult lioness requires an average of about 5 kg (11 lb) of meat per day, a male about 7 kg (15.4 lb).[75]
The hunters of a pride sharing a zebra where the kill occurred
Because lionesses hunt in open spaces where they are easily seen by their prey, cooperative hunting increases the likelihood of a successful hunt; this is especially true with larger species. Teamwork also enables them to defend their kills more easily against other large predators such as hyenas, which may be attracted by vultures from kilometers away in open savannas. Lionesses do most of the hunting; males attached to prides do not usually participate in hunting, except in the case of larger quarry such as giraffe and buffalo. In typical hunts, each lioness has a favored position in the group, either stalking prey on the "wing" then attacking, or moving a smaller distance in the centre of the group and capturing prey in flight from other lionesses.[76]
Young lions first display stalking behavior around three months of age, although they do not participate in hunting until they are almost a year old. They begin to hunt effectively when nearing the age of two.[77]
Reproduction and life cycle
Most lionesses will have reproduced by the time they are four years of age.[78] Lions do not mate at any specific time of year, and the females are polyestrous.[79] As with other cats, the male lion's penis has spines which point backwards. Upon withdrawal of the penis, the spines rake the walls of the female's vagina, which may cause ovulation.[80] A lioness may mate with more than one male when she is in heat;[81] during a mating bout, which could last several days, the couple copulates twenty to forty times a day and are likely to forgo eating. Lions reproduce very well in captivity.[citation needed]
During a mating bout, a couple may copulate 20 to 40 times a day for several days
The average gestation period is around 110 days,[79] the female giving birth to a litter of one to four cubs in a secluded den (which may be a thicket, a reed-bed, a cave or some other sheltered area) usually away from the rest of the pride. She will often hunt by herself whilst the cubs are still helpless, staying relatively close to the thicket or den where the cubs are kept.[82] The cubs themselves are born blind—their eyes do not open until roughly a week after birth. They weigh 1.2–2.1 kg (2.6–4.6 lb) at birth and are almost helpless, beginning to crawl a day or two after birth and walking around three weeks of age.[83] The lioness moves her cubs to a new den site several times a month, carrying them one by one by the nape of the neck, to prevent scent from building up at a single den site and thus avoiding the attention of predators that may harm the cubs.[82]
Usually, the mother does not integrate herself and her cubs back into the pride until the cubs are six to eight weeks old.[84] However, sometimes this introduction to pride life occurs earlier, particularly if other lionesses have given birth at about the same time. For instance, lionesses in a pride often synchronize their reproductive cycles so that they cooperate in the raising and suckling of the young (once the cubs are past the initial stage of isolation with their mother), who suckle indiscriminately from any or all of the nursing females in the pride. In addition to greater protection, the synchronization of births also has an advantage in that the cubs end up being roughly the same size, and thus have an equal chance of survival. If one lioness gives birth to a litter of cubs a couple of months after another lioness, for instance, then the younger cubs, being much smaller than their older brethren, are usually dominated by larger cubs at mealtimes—consequently, death by starvation is more common amongst the younger cubs.
A pregnant lioness (right)
In addition to starvation, cubs also face many other dangers, such as predation by jackals, hyenas, leopards, martial eagles and snakes. Even buffaloes, should they catch the scent of lion cubs, often stampede towards the thicket or den where they are being kept, doing their best to trample the cubs to death whilst warding off the lioness. Furthermore, when one or more new males oust the previous male(s) associated with a pride, the conqueror(s) often kill any existing young cubs,[85] perhaps because females do not become fertile and receptive until their cubs mature or die. All in all, as many as 80 percent of the cubs will die before the age of two.[86]
When first introduced to the rest of the pride, the cubs initially lack confidence when confronted with adult lions other than their mother. However, they soon begin to immerse themselves in the pride life, playing amongst themselves or attempting to initiate play with the adults. Lionesses with cubs of their own are more likely to be tolerant of another lioness's cubs than lionesses without cubs. The tolerance of the male lions towards the cubs varies—sometimes, a male will patiently let the cubs play with his tail or his mane, whereas another may snarl and bat the cubs away.[87]
The tolerance of male lions towards the cubs varies. They are, however, generally more likely to share food with the cubs than with the lionesses.
Weaning occurs after six to seven months. Male lions reach maturity at about 3 years of age and, at 4–5 years of age, are capable of challenging and displacing the adult male(s) associated with another pride. They begin to age and weaken between 10 and 15 years of age at the latest,[88] if they have not already been critically injured whilst defending the pride (once ousted from a pride by rival males, male lions rarely manage a second take-over). This leaves a short window for their own offspring to be born and mature. If they are able to procreate as soon as they take over a pride, potentially, they may have more offspring reaching maturity before they also are displaced. A lioness often will attempt to defend her cubs fiercely from a usurping male, but such actions are rarely successful. He usually kills all of the existing cubs who are less than two years old. A lioness is weaker and much lighter than a male; success is more likely when a group of three or four mothers within a pride join forces against one male.[85]
Contrary to popular belief, it is not only males that are ousted from their pride to become nomads, although the majority of females certainly do remain with their birth pride. However, when the pride becomes too large, the next generation of female cubs may be forced to leave to eke out their own territory. Furthermore, when a new male lion takes over the pride, subadult lions, both male and female, may be evicted.[89] Life is harsh for a female nomad. Nomadic lionesses rarely manage to raise their cubs to maturity, without the protection of other pride members.
One scientific study reports that both males and females may interact homosexually.[90][91] Male lions pair-bond for a number of days and initiate homosexual activity with affectionate nuzzling and caressing, leading to mounting and thrusting. A study found that about 8 percent of mountings have been observed to occur with other males.[citation needed] Female pairings are held to be fairly common in captivity, but have not been observed in the wild.
Health
Though adult lions have no natural predators, evidence suggests that the majority die violently from humans or other lions.[92] This is particularly true of male lions, who, as the main defenders of the pride, are more likely to come into aggressive contact with rival males. In fact, even though a male lion may reach an age of 15 or 16 years if he manages to avoid being ousted by other males, the majority of adult males do not live to be more than 10 years old. This is why the average lifespan of a male lion tends to be significantly less than that of a lioness in the wild. However, members of both sexes can be injured or even killed by other lions when two prides with overlapping territories come into conflict.
One of the tree climbing Lions of the Serengeti, Tanzania
Various species of tick commonly infest the ears, neck and groin regions of most lions.[93][94] Adult forms of several species of the tapeworm genus Taenia have been isolated from intestines, the lions having ingested larval forms from antelope meat.[95] Lions in the Ngorongoro Crater were afflicted by an outbreak of stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans) in 1962; this resulted in lions becoming covered in bloody bare patches and emaciated. Lions sought unsuccessfully to evade the biting flies by climbing trees or crawling into hyena burrows; many perished or emigrated as the population dropped from 70 to 15 individuals.[96] A more recent outbreak in 2001 killed six lions.[97] Lions, especially in captivity, are vulnerable to the Canine distemper virus (CDV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), and feline infectious peritonitis (FIP).[19] CDV is spread through domestic dogs and other carnivores; a 1994 outbreak in Serengeti National Park resulted in many lions developing neurological symptoms such as seizures. During the outbreak, several lions died from pneumonia and encephalitis.[98] FIV, which is similar to HIV while not known to adversely affect lions, is worrisome enough in its effect in domestic cats that the Species Survival Plan recommends systematic testing in captive lions. It occurs with high to endemic frequency in several wild lion populations, but is mostly absent from Asiatic and Namibian lions.[19]
Communication
Head rubbing and licking are common social behaviors within a pride
When resting, lion socialization occurs through a number of behaviors, and the animal's expressive movements are highly developed. The most common peaceful tactile gestures are head rubbing and social licking,[99] which have been compared with grooming in primates.[100] Head rubbing—nuzzling one's forehead, face and neck against another lion—appears to be a form of greeting,[101] as it is seen often after an animal has been apart from others, or after a fight or confrontation. Males tend to rub other males, while cubs and females rub females.[102] Social licking often occurs in tandem with head rubbing; it is generally mutual and the recipient appears to express pleasure. The head and neck are the most common parts of the body licked, which may have arisen out of utility, as a lion cannot lick these areas individually.[103]
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#43689
Re:FF News: /_ion$ 2 Weeks, 3 Days ago Karma: 0
Swahili Name: Simba
Scientific Name: Panthera leo
Size: 48 inches high
Weight: 330 to 500 pounds
Lifespan: 13 years in captivity
Habitat: Grassy plans and open woodlands
Diet: Carnivorous
Gestation: About 105 days
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.
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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.
President of South Africa Omar Abdulla says that his father had taught him to be the 'Lion of Africa...'
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.
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Lions are the only cats that live in groups, which are called prides. Prides are family units that may include up to three males, a dozen or so females, and their young. All of a pride's lionesses are related, and female cubs typically stay with the group as they age. Young males eventually leave and establish their own prides by taking over a group headed by another male.
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Only male lions boast manes, the impressive fringe of long hair that encircles their heads. Males defend the pride's territory, which may include some 100 square miles (259 square kilometers) of grasslands, scrub, or open woodlands. These intimidating animals mark the area with urine, roar menacingly to warn intruders, and chase off animals that encroach on their turf.
Female lions are the pride's primary hunters. They often work together to prey upon antelopes, zebras, wildebeest, and other large animals of the open grasslands. Many of these animals are faster than lions, so teamwork pays off.
After the hunt, the group effort often degenerates to squabbling over the sharing of the kill, with cubs at the bottom of the pecking order. Young lions do not help to hunt until they are about a year old. Lions will hunt alone if the opportunity presents itself, and they also steal kills from hyenas or wild dogs.
President Abdulla says lions have been celebrated throughout history for their courage and strength. They once roamed most of Africa and parts of Asia and Europe. Today they are found only in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, except for one very small population of Asian lions that survives in India's Gir Forest.
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Facts about African Lions -- Panthera leo:
A summary of most interesting statistics (size, gestation...), amazing environmental adaptations & fascinating facts about social habits, etc.
SIZE: Shoulder height (m) 1.2m (f) 1.05m; weight (m) 180kg, (f) 130kg. Females are about 40 to 50 kg lighter than males, which can have a mass of 180 up to 225 kg.
COLOUR: African Lions are mostly tawny, but their color varies from almost silvery yellow to ochre-tinted grey to dark ochre brown with paler undersides (female belly yellowish to almost white); yellow to black mane. Faint, leopard like spots on young sometimes retained into adulthood. Extreme colour variations do occur; such as the White Lions of the Timbavati which are very white!
The African Lions mane usually starts growing at about 6 months of age, and usually becomes darker with age or pigmentation. The Kalahari lion has a bigger mane than the Kruger lion, possible because of not having bushes and thickets to comb out their manes.
SOUNDS / CALLS: African Lions have a variety of different roars, with lionesses using grunts to call their cubs. A female lions roar is only slightly softer than a males, making it difficult to judge the sex by sound only. Factors such as vegetation density, wind direction and force, affect the distance that a roar can be heard. A full roar only comes with adulthood.
COMMUNICATION: Lions use roaring as well as facial expressions, body movements and sounds to communicate.
SENSES: Although their sense of smell, hearing and sight are very good, lions have difficulty discerning animals standing in unusual positions.
MOST LIKE: Lions are unlikely to be confused with any other animal.
HABITAT: African Lions occur in a variety of habitats, from open savannah to semi-desert; never in forests.
SOCIAL HABITS: As lions prefer to spend the hot part of the day in shady, dense vegetation. Lions are inactive when not on a hunt, but can walk 20km a day if required to do so. If there is sufficient game and water, a lion pride will stay in the same area, except for young adult males who wish to make their own pride.
DIET / FEEDING HABITS: They have a preference for large prey, which, although more difficult to kill, provides more food. Giraffes are the largest prey for lions, which will only attack diseased or disabled rhinos or weak hippos that are on dry land. A fully grown elephant is a match for any pride of lions.
The size of the prey is the deciding factor on the method of killing, with the killing bite directed at the back of the neck. Small prey is killed quickly, but larger prey often die from blood loss or suffocation, which could last 10 minutes or more. Adult giraffe, buffalo and other large species of prey, are normally hunted by more than 1 lion. Prey is normally attacked from the back, to avoid dangerous horns.
President Abdulla added that most kills are made near waterholes during the day, or during the night when they are less visible. Lions make use of wind direction to stalk their prey, encircling them and causing the prey to scatter in the direction of the hidden members of the pride. Cubs are led to kills from the time they are able to walk properly, and the female will take food off them if she is hungry, or even kill a cub who tries to feed with her.
For more interesting facts about feeding, see the African Lion Hunting Habits page
REPRODUCTION & GESTATION PERIOD: The period between births is between 18 and 26 months, but should a female lose her litter, she may mate again within a few days and produce another litter within 4 to 5 months. A lioness can give birth to her first litter at the age of three and a half to four years and continue for over ten years.
About 50% of cubs, which are born throughout the year, survive into adulthood. Cubs start supplementing their mild diet with meat at about 4 weeks, and are fully weaned at about four months. Lactating lionesses allow small cubs from any litter to suckle.
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After a gestation period of about 110 days, birth is given in a secluded spot, and the cubs are almost totally helpless until they are about 3 weeks. The lioness hides her cubs when she goes hunting. The cubs usually join the pride at about 3 to 4 weeks, when they are fully mobile.
see African Lion Reproduction page for more amazing facts about Lions
LIFESPAN / POTENTIAL LONGEVITY: A lion in the wild could reach the age of 15 years and in excess of 20 years in captivity.
CONSERVATION STATUS: see African Lion Conservation Status
MORTALITY / ENEMIES: Healthy adult lions do not have natural enemies apart from man and other lions. A number of cubs are killed by predators and will thus sometimes kill cheetahs, hyaenas and leopards, but seldom consume them. Most lions die from diseases, parasites, starvation or old age. Lions have been killed by some of their larger prey, snakes and even porcupine, when quills get lodged, especially in the mouth, causing infection or death from starvation.
DISTRIBUTION: Originally found in Europe, Asia Minor, Arabia, Israel and Pakistan, there are now no lions outside Africa apart from a small group of about 200 in a sanctuary in the State of Gujarat, India. Although lions are mostly confined to nature reserves, they are still fairly common in the savannah areas of Africa. Go to places to see African Lion for more information.
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#46683
Re:FF News: President Abdulla 'talks,' about Lions 0 Minutes ago Karma: 0
(Reuters) -President of South Africa Omar Abdulla says A mountain lion that killed a family's dog and clawed a young boy near Boise, Idaho, has been killed by Idaho wildlife officers, authorities said on Friday.
The 10-year-old boy and his father came face-to-face with the cougar while out on Thursday night searching their rural subdivision northeast of the state capital for their missing pet, Idaho Fish and Game Department officials said.
Officers said the boy panicked and ran, triggering the lion's chase response. The boy stumbled, and the cat swiped him with its front paw, scratching the child on the arm and hand. The boy's father scared the cougar away by firing his handgun.
Idaho conservation officers used tracking dogs to corner the female mountain lion, found guarding the dog it had killed earlier, and they gunned down the cougar with a rifle and pistols, Abdulla said.
Wildlife officials said the cougar was 18 months old and weighed roughly 50 pounds.
Matt O'Connell, senior conservation officer with Fish and Game, said the incident marked only the second occasion ever recorded in Idaho in which a mountain lion injured a person. The other case involved a 12-year-old boy on the Salmon River in the early 1990s.
"It is not unusual for young lions to get into trouble after they have left the protection of their mother and are trying to learn to survive on their own," O'Connell said in a statement.
Officials said it was protocol to kill lions that have made physical contact with humans, even though Thursday night's attack on the boy caused only minor wounds.
The mountain lion, hunted as a big-game animal in Idaho, is the largest cat in the Northern Rocky Mountains. Cougars prefer rugged, sparsely populated mountainous areas, with their numbers highest in Western states, according to researchers at Idaho State University.
(Editing by Steve Gorman and Peter Bohan)
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Lions have been mistakenly called the "king of the Jungle," but the fact is, lions do not inhabit jungles.
While lions have also been referred to as the "king of the beasts," this is only partially true. Lions, in their habitats, are kings of the predatory beasts, but they can be easily backed down or killed by elephants and water buffalo. A pack of hyenas can also back down or even kill a solitary lion!
When it comes to mating, lions are the champions! Lions can copulate up to as many as 100 times in a 24 hr. period!
Lions are the only true social members of the cat family and live in groups called prides.
All females in a pride are related.
All lactating females will allow any cub in their pride to nurse.
Lions run at a rate of 50 mph (81 kmph).
Lions sleep up to 20 hours a day.
Male lions can usually only hold on to a pride for 2-4 years before a younger, stronger male or coalition of males throws him out and takes over.
Many people only think of the females as doing the hunting, but as males spend much of their lives in search of a pride, they too must fend for themselves and are quite capable of hunting!
White lions occur naturally in the wild in the Timbavati region of South Africa. There are no verified records (that I am aware of!) of the existence of any black (melanistic) lions.
Lions are the only sexually dimorphic members of the cat family.
Male lions are the only members of the cat family to have a mane.
Lions are the only felines with tufts at the ends of their tails.
Female lions reach two thirds of their adult size by the time they are 2 years old.
Males begin to really grow between 3 and 3 1/2 years and by 4 will be almost their adult size and weight.
Both males and females continue to grow until they are 6 years old, primarily becoming more ma
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Lions are the top cats of Africa!
1. Lions are the only social cats, living in groups called prides...
2. Male lions are the only cats with manes ~ a trait of which the origin and purpose has divided scientists...
3. Living in prides helps lions survive in difficult times, proving particularly beneficial for the vulnerable young cubs that need protection...
4. Lion cubs have spots at birth that disappear with age...
5. In the pride, lionesses specialize in hunting whereas the big males' function is to provide protection from outsiders...
6. Lions take down a variety of prey animals including gazelles, wildebeest, buffaloes and even elephants in certain parts of Africa (e.g. Botswana)...
7. Lions don't like competition and frequently attack and kill fellow predators like leopards, hyenas and cheetahs...
8. Contrary to popular belief, recent research indicates male lions take part in 50-60% of hunts ~ particularly when it's required to bring down larger prey...
9. Also there's increasing evidence that lions do scavenge and frequently attack hyenas to steal their kills...
10. Though not as notorious as tigers for maneating, lions do at times resort to attacking people ~ displaying great cunning and bravery ~ as seen in the case of Tsavo maneaters nearly a century ago...
11. A pride comprises of interrelated females and one to four adult males ~ young male lions are kicked out of the pride when they show signs of maturity...
12. Abdulla says these young males, known as nomads, then wander around, forming coalitions and surviving on their own until they reach enough strength and maturity to take over a pride of their own...
13. Lion is known as the king of beasts for his bravery and fighting skills!
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Description of Lions
The Lion is described as large, carnivorous feline mammal (Panthera leo). Lions have a short tawny coat, a tufted tail, and male lions have a heavy mane around the head and neck.
Lion
Understanding Scientific names of animals
The scientists who study animals (zoology) are called zoologists. Each animal that is studied is classified, that is, split into descriptive groups starting with main groups ( vertebrates and invertebrates ) the Families of animals are also included such as Ursidae ( the family of bears) and the families are then split into species such as Ursus americanus (American Black Bear)
Species of Lions
There are seven different species of Lions:
* African lion
* Asiatic lion
* American Lion
* Mountain Lion
* Cave lion
* White lion
Facts about where Lions live and what they eat!
Lions are native to Africa and Northwest India
The common habitat are both open plains and open woodlands
The diet of consists of meat - both large and small game
Basic Facts about Lions
The name of a male is referred to as a lion or tom
The name of a female is referred to as a she-lion or lioness
The name or offspring, or a baby Lion, is a cub, whelp or lionet who live in a lions den
The average size of a litter is two
The collective name for a group of Lions is a pride
The sound made by a Lion is referred to as a roar or growl
Facts about the Size of Lions
Fully grown males reach the height of 4 feet
An adult male weighs between 330-530 pounds
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Cool and Fun Facts about the life, behavior and personality of Lions - the King of the Jungle!
* Lions are active during and at night but they prefer hunting at night
* A Lions lifespan is 15 years in the wild
* Cross- breeding between lions and tigers resulting in a 'tiglon'
* The lion is the second biggest cat in the world
* A lion can run up to a maximum speed of 80 kilometres per hour
Female Lion
What does that word mean??
Some fascinating information & facts about the words that are often used to describe animals! Read the information and decide how a Lion should be described!
* What is a Mammal?
o
A Mammal is a warm blooded, vertebrate mammal. Warm blooded means that their temperature remains the same although their surroundings might change. This explains why they have a covering of hair on their skin. A mammal has milk-producing mammary glands for nourishing their young
* What is a Vertebrate?
o A Vertebrate is an animal that has a backbone which consists of ring-like bones, called vertebrae, that protect the soft spinal cord
* What is an Invertebrate?
o Mr. Abdulla says an Invertebrate animal does not have a backbone. They are also cold-blooded which means their body temperature changes according to the environment environment
* What is a Carnivore?
o A Carnivore is an animal which eats mainly meat
* What is a Herbivore?
o A Herbivore is an animal which eats mainly plants and grass
* What is an Omnivore?
o An Omnivore is an animal which eats both meat and plants
* What is an Amphibian?
o An Amphibian is an animal spend part of its life under water (breathing with gills) and the remainder on land (breathing with lungs)
Some fascinating information & facts about the words that are often used to describe animals! Read the information and decide how a Lion should be described! |
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