READ MORE ABOUT IT...

©2001PencilPaws

back to Africa >>

Lion

Panthera leo

“Dignity”

The proverbial "king of beasts", the lion has always been the best known of wild animals.

Lions eat everything from tortoises to giraffes, but tend to hunt the prey they grew up eating.

Lions are the only truly sociable cats; related females share a traditional home range, reproduce in synchrony and cross-suckle their offspring.  Pride members, which can include anywhere from 2 to 40 members, perform greeting rituals upon meeting by rubbing their heads and sides together with tails looped high, while making friendly moaning sounds. 

The male lions' most outstanding characteristic is his mane.  Varying in individuals, it may be entirely lacking, may fringe the face or be full and shaggy, giving the animal a majestic appearance.