Twenty-four sub-species classifications have been suggested for modern lions based on external morphological differences in different geographical regions, such as body size, coat thickness and colour, mane size and colouration as well as the extent of retention of juvenile spots into adulthood. Lions do show substantial variation within populations but only limited between population differences like other wide-ranging large mammals. the Neanderthals) elsewhere.Īlthough modern lions genetically differ from leopards and tigers by 13.8% and 19.8%, respectively, differences from Holarctic cave lions of 5 – 6% greatly exceed those among modern African lions (around 0 – 1.22%).
200 kyr and went on to replace hominids (e.g. This single origin replacement model of modern lion evolution provides a parallel to the ‘recent African origin’ model of human evolution (in comparison to the ‘multiregional evolution’ model), in which modern Homo sapiens evolved in Africa ca.
55–200 kyr) allowed a single population of lions to replace older populations in Africa and south-western Eurasia. It has been suggested that a population bottleneck of the modern lion (ca. Recent genetic studies have suggested that at least two distinct lineages of lion inhabited western Eurasia at the end of the Pleistocene: the Holarctic cave lion ( P. In a pattern broadly resembling that of humans, lions migrated out of Africa during the Middle Pleistocene (800–100,000 years ago – kyr) into Europe, Asia and North America extending as far south as Peru and becoming the most widespread large terrestrial mammals during the Late Pleistocene (100–10 kyr). fossilis) appeared at Laetoli in Tanzania in East Africa during the Late Pliocene (5.0–1.8 million years ago). “Lion” in various languagesįossil evidence suggests that the earliest lion-like cat ( P. The name came into English through the classical languages, but panther, is probably of East Asian origin meaning “ the yellowish animal”. The generic component of its scientific designation, Panthera¸ is presumed to derive from Greek pan– (“all”) and ther (“beast”) but this may be folk etymology. The lion’s name derives from the Latin Leo the ancient Greek λέων ( leon) with the Hebrew word lavi possibly also related. Let’s start our journey of discovery with Etymology, where did the lion get its name? Welcome to our comprehensive guide to the African lion. Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary of the English Language (1755) “ Lion: the fiercest and most magnanimous of the four-footed beasts“ 5.6 How many males are in a lion pride?.5.1 What is the meaning of Panthera leo?.1.1 Let’s start our journey of discovery with Etymology, where did the lion get its name?.Small animals are killed with a bat of the paw or a quick bite to the head. Typically, a lion kills a large animal by strangulation, biting down on its throat or, sometimes, on its nose and mouth. But, although lions can reach a top speed of 60km/hr for short distances, their prey usually escapes (only about one stalk in six is successful). There is a rush and a leap as the lion comes in range of its victim. They stalk up as close as possible, using every bit of available cover before making a final charge, going for the closest individual. Usually, several lionesses, working as a team, spread out and approach a herd from different directions. Male lions usually leave almost all of the hunting to the females, but once a kill is made, they will sometimes drive off the females and cubs in order to be the first to feed upon the prey. The skull (above left) has large surfaces for the insertion of the powerful jaw muscles. The molars are rudimentary because their food is swallowed in chunks, unchewed. The canines of a lion (left), which are long, sharp and slightly recurved, are excellent tools for grasping and wounding prey, while the sharp premolars are effective in tearing away chunks of flesh. The main threats to lions are indiscriminate killing, primarily as a result of retaliatory or preemptive killing to protect human life and livestock, and prey base depletion (again, due to human activities). The IUCN rates lions as vulnerable, the next stage before endangered, and lion populations have long been in decline. (Most prefer their humans raw, with ketchup, mustard, pickles, lettuce and a little mayo on a sesame bun!) All joking aside, the truth is that humans are inflicting a lot more damage on lions these days than vice versa.
And, of course, they're perfectly happy to eat human beings as well.
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