10 Fascinating Facts About Lions You Probably Didn't Know

The lion is one of the most well-known animals in the world. These big cats are striking examples of nature’s beauty, and they are also some of the most intriguing creatures on earth. Lions have a lot of interesting facts associated with them, but we don’t often hear about them. They are almost always portrayed as villains in movies or find themselves fighting with other big cat species such as tigers or jaguars. In this post, we are going to go beyond the usual stereotypes and give you some amazing facts about lions that you probably didn’t know before. Let’s dive in...

The lion is the only member of the cat family that has a mane

The mane is one of the most striking features of lions. No other member of the cat family has one. Scientifically, this is known as a pilo-erection. It is an evolutionary adaptation to help the lion regulate its body temperature. The mane allows the lion to shade itself from the sun during the day and trap warmth at night. Lions use this ability to hunt more than you might think. They can use their mane to hide from their prey. When researchers studied this behaviour, they found that the lions were so effective at hiding because they also move their mane as they walk. This motion makes it seem as if they are just part of the bush. Lions are also able to use their mane to communicate. Lions use scent glands in their mane to mark territory or to let other lions know their identity.

Lions can’t roar, but they can growl and snarl

Lions are often portrayed roaring in movies and TV shows. When people think of lions, they immediately imagine the sound of a lion’s roar. In reality, lions don’t really roar at all. The sound that we often refer to as a lion’s roar is actually a combination of growling and snarling. Growling and snarling are both forms of vocal communication that don’t require air from the lungs. That’s why lions can’t roar. They don’t have the vocal chords to push air through the way humans do with their lungs. Lions use growling and snarling for different purposes. Growling is usually a sign of aggression. Lions use this sound when they are trying to scare off other lions or other predators. Snarling is used to indicate fear or anger. This is the sound that we hear when lions are fighting.

Lions hunt in groups, but usually only the males hold territory

Lions are often portrayed as vicious, bloodthirsty animals. They are also often portrayed as solitary creatures. In reality, lions are a very social species of animal. Lions often hunt in groups, and they are extremely loyal to the other members of their pride. The male lions that belong to a pride are the only ones that hold a territory. The females in the pride don’t need to hold territory because they don’t reproduce. The male lions certainly do need to hold territory. They do this to defend their pride from other prides.

A baby lion is called a cub, not a kitten

You’ve probably heard the word “kitten” used when talking about baby lions. This is a common misconception. “Kitten” actually refers to a young cat of any species. It has nothing to do with lions specifically. A baby lion is called a cub. Lions are mammals, and so are their offspring. “Cubs” are the offspring of any mammal that are less than one year old. In this case, lions are the species.

There are 6 different types of lions in total

Most people know that lions are native to Africa, but we don’t often hear about the different types of lions that live in Africa. Lions come in 6 different types. These are the Asiatic lion, Barbary lion, Cape lion, African lion, Southern African lion, and the Northern African lion. The Asiatic lion is the only type of lion that is not found in Africa. It is actually critically endangered. The rest of the lions are only found in Africa.

The male lions that belong to a pride are the only ones that hold a territory

We just talked about how all of the lions in a pride don’t hold territory. The male lions, however, are the only ones that do. Lionesses hold a territory and defend it as well. The only difference is that they hold the pride’s territory and not their own. Lionesses hold a territory to protect themselves and their cubs. Male lions don’t have cubs to protect, so they hold a territory to protect the pride as a whole.

Male lions often take over primate societies to become leaders

Primate species, such as apes and monkeys, have hierarchies just like humans do. These societies are led by alpha males. The hierarchy is established by fighting. The top-ranking male always wins these fights. They are usually one-on-one battles. In other words, when a new male lion takes over a pride, he always takes out the alpha male. This occurs in other primate species as well. However, it is much more common with lions than with other primates. That’s because lions are very territorial animals. They defend their territory with the same ferocity that they defend their pride.

In some areas, up to 50% of lion births are twins

Most people know that many large cats, including lions, are solitary creatures. This leads people to assume that the mother lion is on her own, raising her cubs alone. In reality, this is rarely the case. Lionesses are highly social and group-oriented animals. They almost always mate with a male lion. If a female has two cubs, they are often twins. Lionesses are so social that they are often observed taking care of cubs that aren’t their own. This happens especially often with twins. These lionesses, the mothers of the cubs, often share the work of raising their cubs with other females in the pride. This is especially common with female twins.

Conclusion

Lions are truly fascinating animals, and most of these facts have been overlooked for far too long. We hope that, after reading this article, you have a new appreciation for lions and their behaviors.