Lions are not as fast as other types of big cats, such as leopards and tigers. Mountain lions are large, powerful cats. If things work out right, that's when the lion comes into play. Oh wow, what a great hub. Both sides have supporters for various valid reasons. Warriors and others gathered into large groups, some numbering greater than a hundred, and started to hunt down the lions. They aren’t built for hunting. The only times big old dark lions are even semi-successful hunters is when they hunt in forests or heavy bush. Lions Are Social. Wow, Ann I admire your kind heartedness. That’s their job. Ann- I admire you taking in strays. I rescued my jack russell from a shelter- okay I had to pay a small fee. Very interesting. Turns out that lion kings are not built for hunting. It’s actually quite common for lions to sit and observe their prey during daylight hours, usually just before sunset. I hate seeing videos of predators eating their prey while it's still alive, its gut wrenching to watch! Lions, on the other hand, ... the lion is built only for fighting other lions. This kind of heavy cover helps them to get closer before being discovered, despite their relatively clumsy stalking skills and slower speed. Male and female lions greet each other with rubs. Once the Lion catches up to the prey, they use their powerful claws to maul at their prey and crush their necks, leaving them paralyzed to be taken back to the Lion’s home. However, while the wildcat ancestors of domestic cats are solitary animals, the social behaviour of domestic cats is more variable depending primarily on the density of cats and the availability of food sources. They hunt as a group of males and can really wreak havoc. I didn't really come across any references to the males hunting exclusively at night, but it makes sense given what I said earlier. We took in a stray cat at work and she was the best cat you could ever hope for. The number of lionesses that die fighting another lion are relatively low compared to the number of lions and male lion cubs. Other hunting that occurs in sunlight is directly related to the activity of a particular prey species. There’s something else I’d like to share, just a couple quotes from another wildlife writer, by the name of Amanda Mitchell, which I found to be interesting and amusing that you may get a kick out of: Surprisingly, when hunting, lion don't seem to take account of wind direction. Once a lion has subdued its prey, they begin feasting; focusing initially on the animals intestines- the most nutritious part of the meal. First off, let’s go over the obvious things that most of us know about lions and lionesses. They hunt other small mammals such as gazelles and antelopes. But other places they do just fine. Lionesses hunt together, bringing down large prey like wildebeests and zebras. The main reason why they do this is simply because their typical habitation is devoid of cover. Both males and females have a very powerful roar that can be heard … Mountain lions are known by many names including cougars, pumas, panthers, and catamounts. A lioness may mate with more than one male when she is in heat. And, one of the most important things, with a big dark mane, he actually doesn’t blend in with his surroundings. thanks! African lions can grow to between 9 and 10 feet long (3 meters) from head to tail, with the tail being about 2 to 3 feet long (60 to 91 centimeters), according to the Smithsonian National Zoo. Such problems are frequently encountered and dealt with by other big cats such as leopards and tigers, who often find ingenious ways of hiding their kills from competitors. The Lion Pride A group of lions is called a pride. Thank you for popping by. The lions ferocity is unmatched; his defense is impregnable, his bravery unconscionable. Lions are most active at night and live in a variety of habitats but prefer grassland, savanna, dense scrub, and open woodland. this helped me soooooo much with my lions project!!! James Kenny (author) from Birmingham, England on June 04, 2012: Wonderful hub, thanks for sharing, voted up :). Asked by Wiki User. These cats are loners who map out a territory for themselves to keep other mountain lions out. One big cat that purrs but can’t roar is the cheetah. Lionesses do the hunting Lionesses, not male lions, do the majority of hunting for their prides. Most hunts occur in the hours before sunrise. However, if a lion is hungry enough and cannot find its preferred food it’ll resort to eating whatever it can find, including fish. Lions sometimes eat other cats. Across Tyria, one can find, aside from non-interactable cats, a number of cats and kittens that will accept certain food items, ingredients, or other specific items; some under specific circumstances. By our standards, lions are fast. The Lionesses do all the hunting in large number of groups or pairs. In these cases, we’re talking about adult Cape Buffalo, giraffes, possibly hippos, and even elephants, in certain areas of Africa. If not… it’s the lions and lionesses who come out on top. More questions: Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Way too many, of course, but hey, they were strays and who can resist? If the prey happens to get help from the rest of its herd, they usually win. They don’t eat every day, although they have often been observed hunting on days they don’t eat. Most reported cases of man-eaters have involved lions, tigers, leopards, and crocodilians. Lions hunt and eat mostly larger game, as this is needed to feed the whole pride. Thanks for sharing. However, the female does keep her offspring with her for at least a year while teaching them to hunt. Also, that he is at least four to five years old. But there is that other aspect of manes that I mentioned, and that is darkness. They also scavenge or steal prey from leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, or wild dogs, even eating food that has spoiled. By the fifth day though, the hunting itch starts to return, they begin to walk around and resume observing the masses of herbivores dotted across the landscape. Lionesses make up most hunting groups and often trap prey with their strong jaws. But when compared to fleet footed herbivores they are rather sluggish, thus justifying the existence of a pride. ... gazelles, and other animals in the area. This made me not get in trouble so im lucky i found this website!! Sent me on a 3 hour trip through YouTube watching other lion vids lol. I like this so much I made a roblox game on it. They are dark colored, they get easily affected by heat (and ironically, the darker the mane, the more chance of getting over-heated and winded on a chase). Tigers live in Southern Asia and Cheetahs live in about the same part of Africa, but keep to themselves. As the sun begins to set, the lions socialize, groom one another, and take care of their bathroom business. Lions live in prides, but the females do the hunting, while the male protects the pride and helps raise cubs. Sheila Brown from Southern Oklahoma on June 05, 2012: Very interesting hub. All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. Indeed, many lions injure themselves when they try to control bigger animals. Many carnivorous birds, called raptors, have curved beaks that they use to tear apart their prey. © 2020 Forbes Media LLC. In the process though, they do sometimes give themselves away inadvertently. There are two types of hunting that all lions, male and female, engage in. But usually, most stalking by lions is done just after sunset, or during the middle of the night, several hours before dawn. Generally, the scrub country which lions tend to favour more than anywhere else, provides them with many different kinds of herbivores. There has been a rapid expansion and diversity of the Felidae family during the past 10 to 11 million years and by 3 million years ago there was a wide variety of cats popula… Plant-eaters, on the other hand, usually have big molars that help them grind up leaves and grasses. After that, the lion gorges on the rest, working forward from the hindquarters. The lion showed aggression but the two managed to retreat. As if Nature made the perfect creature and sees no reason to alter her masterpiece. You know, like the peacock, and all the other various animals who show off in some flashy way in order to be chosen by the female. Did you come across this difference in hunting schedules in your research? They will hunt and kill zebras, warthogs, antelopes and many other animals that are native to the savannah. That’s the basic stuff. When they entered the thick bush, it was bristling with lions that instantly grabbed and ate one of the gazelles. It starts with all the lionesses taking positions on the flanks. These lions, usually females also known as lionesses then attack their prey from the sides or the rear. This is due to the fact that at certain times of the year, the scent of lions is detectable by other wildlife throughout much of the region, particularly near any water sources. It’s not uncommon after such an encounter for an injured lion to be unable to partake in any future hunts. Much faster than lions; averaging about 30% faster. Have a wonderful day! Linda Bilyeu from Orlando, FL on June 06, 2012: Very interesting James. Mountain lions are the first of the big cats. They literally have to lie around in the shade! For example, one study in Zimbabwe showed that female lions are more likely to hunt browsers (animals that eat bark, leaves, and twigs) such as giraffes and kudu in the early dry season, and then grazers (animals that eat grass) like zebras and suids (pig family: i.e. Feeding these cats affects all home instances for all characters of the account.. Overview []. The Lion's diet consists of wildebeests, antelope, zebras, wild pigs, buffalo, impalas, and other hoofed mammals. I agree with you- all cats are truly remarkable creatures, they're probably the closest you can get to a perfect land hunter. The proverbial ‘king of the beasts,’ the lion has been one of the best-known wild animals since earliest times. Other animals also do this, including cat species and ungulates such as horses. Thanks again. It is definitely a never ending war for survival when it comes to this stuff. Thanks Letitia. On average, a prey item weighs about 250Ibs from which each lion usually consumes about 40Ibs worth. The lionesses do the majority of the hunting while the males mostly guard the pride and provide protection for the cubs. Predators need to kill and eat other animals to survive. Such behaviour is common, because lions will consume whatever food they have, eating as much as 75Ibs in one sitting. Most of us probably already kinda knew that, but now we all know exactly how and why this is so. But it’s the fighting spirit, aggressiveness, size and weight of the lion that makes the difference here. That black mane sticks out like an eight ball in a cue ball factory. Indeed, a group of tigers hunting together would just increase the likelihood of spooking their prey and, unlike some cats, tigers don’t have the stamina for a prolonged chase, so they normally abandon an attack if they are spotted too early. Lions hunt antelope and other hoofed animals, baby elephants or rhinos, rodents, reptiles, insects, and even crocodiles. Too big for lionesses to approach on their own. James Kenny (author) from Birmingham, England on June 03, 2012: Thanks very much Katrine, your kind words are always appreciated. I hear people constantly banging on about how they've just purchased a dog from a so called fancy breeder. Lions are the only big cats that live in groups, called prides. A lioness may mate with more than one male when she is in heat. Be the first to answer! Do lions have enemies? Lions have terrific night vision. So, some more lesser-known facts. Lionesses are fast. Their Latin name is Puma concolor. It is the role of the lionesses to hunt and bring food home to the lions and the cubs in their packs. They live together … Lions roar to communicate their position to other prides. Why do lions hunt in packs but tigers alone? It shows a healthy lion and a sexy lion; at least the darkness does. Anyway, I had to put my foot down several times on all the strays that wondered up. So actually, the more virile and healthy that the lion gets, the less of a successful hunter he is. There is a subject that I haven’t even touched on and that is the “coalitions” of young adult lions that have no pride of their own. But there is also another variable, and that is pigmentation. Manes vary considerably, from location to location, in size. Barongi shares the belief that all cats respond to catnip to some extent but that younger cats respond more than older cats, and that all cats react more on first exposure to catnip than in subsequent encounters. They certainly can and do hunt. Why do lions hunt cooperatively while most other cats do not? A pride of lions can range from 3 lions to as many as 30 lions. This is very great information, thank you for sharing. They do though, also have a fondness for warthogs and have been to know lie in wait outside their burrows for hours on end. Thank you. Their success rate is 60%. Lionesses, not male lions, do the majority of hunting for their prides. Getting an occasional “big kill” is important, and the males have no problem with taking part. This same stealth method is used even when a lioness is hunting alone, which may on occasion, happen. These are all things that a lioness seeks, and the darkest maned lions are the ones who become the lion kings of the pride. No-brainer, there. Pride members keep track of one another by roaring. more The lions' kingdom isn't what it once was. Thanks for that James. Occasionally, lions will hunt young elephants, rhinoceros or hippopotamus. This is a big deal. Such a terrifyingly visual turn of a phrase! Similarly, if the landscape is illuminated by bright moonlight, then they’ll wait until it’s obscured before attempting any sort of hunt. However, despite these obvious inefficiencies, prey is so plentiful in most of their range, that these shortcomings are almost irrelevant. The other way that Lions hunt is a little more straightforward. In the Etosha National Park when hunting blue wildebeest, single lionesses: make 0,28 kills per hunt while, groups of 7 make 0,75 kills per hunt. As the day progressed, the situation steadily descended into chaos. These guys are made for fighting. Aslan is the Turkish and Mongolian word for “lion.” It is also the name of the lion in C. S. Lewis’ The … Lionesses do indeed do the majority of the hunting. The other type of pride-based hunting is a little more straightforward. :). This is a big deal among scientists, from way back… all the way to Charles Darwin. I love lions!!!! Like those of other cats, the male lion's penis has spines that point backward. If resources are scarce, the pride becomes smaller. The answer seems to be no. With that, we can start to suspect that the original question may prove to be true. In Eastern and Central Africa, the great herds of herbivores vastly outnumber the lion prides. Well, I suppose you could say three types, if you include hunting for prey that has already been killed by leopards, cheetahs, hyenas and wild dogs… and stealing it! However, they are not the only predators that will attack humans if given the chance; a wide variety of species have also been known to adopt humans as usual prey, including bears, Komodo dragons and hyenas. Other big cats live solitary lives, except when breeding or raising cubs. So it would be utterly impractical for the herbivores to avoid these areas just through picking up the lions scent. That makes him look lazy, but that’s just not the case, for all the reasons I listed above. They frequently react to the sounds of animals walking or moving through water and set out to investigate. Their bodies can’t take the heat; especially the bigger, more heavily maned, darker, regal ones. They will then spend most of the night alternating between lounging and hunting. There have also been examples of lions utilising their sense of smell to aid in the hunting process. However the success rate of each species can vary with pack animals more likely to successfully kill their prey. The Lion is the only cat that lives in large social groups, shares its territory, and regularly hunts together. For the longest time, ever since lions were scientifically studied, it was believed that the mane is there to protect the lion’s throat when he is fighting. The size of the pride is determined by the availability of food and water. I have 4 house cats myself. Most likely the cats went north out of Africa into Europe and Asia eventually crossing the Bering land bridge into Alaska and down through North America to Mexico. this infro helped me with my school paper. Trophy hunting and destroying a lion's habitat are two reasons why the lion population is declining. This is where the big guns are needed… and I mean the big, heavy, maned lions. Lions, being denizens of open country simply don’t have the luxury of being able to hide or shelter the food. This gives them a distinct advantage over some prey species when hunting at night. They lack intent, but you are in the way. I really enjoyed putting this one together, so I'm glad I've gotten such a great response. On previous Big Cat Diaries, Half-Tail narrowly escaped a grizzly fate when two lionesses came … More than anything, lions rely on their sight to help them with hunting. While hunting is still puzzling most people as they can’t understand why their fluffy friends continue to hunt whenever they get the chance to do so – even if they are well fed, for cats, the habit of hunting is central to their behavior. The warriors later tracked and also killed this lion with spears. By our standards of course, these mighty creatures are anything but slow, their top seed is around 30mph, but they can only sustain it for around a minute. Experts have observed individuals stalking under vegetative cover, occasionally sticking their heads up high out of their cover in order to keep track of a particular animal they may be stalking. In the hottest and most humid environments, manes are smaller. It revealed lions form prides to defend territory against other lions, not to improve their hunting success. As well as blowing their cover, they pay little heed to the wind’s direction, which frequently allows their scent to be carried ahead, thus alerting their prey to possible danger. Martin Kloess from San Francisco on June 03, 2012: Very interesting information and video. Tigers are less tolerant of hot temperatures compared to the other large cats. ), but when someone actually recorded wind direction in 100s of hunts that they observed, the lions hunted upwind (good idea) as often as they hunted down wind (...not such a good idea). Another, or to put it more accurately the most important reason that lions are able to find enough food is that they usually do their hunting cooperatively. Man-eater is a colloquial term for an individual animal that preys on humans as a pattern of hunting behavior. We know she is lithe and stealthy. Also, it has been found that lionesses do not necessarily favor a big mane, when given a choice (which they don’t always have, by the way). As well as having a plentiful supply of prey, there are other factors that help to make up for some of the lion’s hunting deficiencies. Is the lioness the better for hunting? I always watch Christian The lion Story. They hunt using teamwork and rely more on strength than speed to catch and kill prey. A pride consists of up to three males, a dozen related females, and their young. While most cats have slit pupils, lions actually have round pupils instead. https://discover.hubpages.com/education/Wild-Cats-... James Kenny (author) from Birmingham, England on September 06, 2012: James Kenny (author) from Birmingham, England on June 18, 2012: Thank you very much Christy, glad you liked it :). Lion, large, powerfully built cat that is second in size only to the tiger. Also, the reason that they have the luxury of lazing in the shade, while lionesses hunt, is not so much because they feel entitled, it has more to do with the whole heat issue. There are currently 35 cats that can be unlocked. For example, when zebras or gazelles drink from lakes or rivers during the heat of the day, their presence often produces a flurry of hunting. originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Mountain Lions, Their Rare Attacks on Humans, and How to Try to Prevent Them. So there’s our answer as to why lionesses are better adapted for hunting, and lions are better adapted for fighting. Not an expert stalker, compared to the lioness. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. I never really thought about a lions behavior until now. Like those of other cats, the male lion's penis has spines that point backward. Built for hunting? Yes, they get involved as well. Over the next two hours the same group of gazelles, having apparently forgotten the recent murder of one of their companions, tried not once but twice more to get to the water using the same route… with predictable results. During withdrawal of the penis, the spines rake the walls of the female's vagina, which may cause ovulation. A jaguar or lion will simply rip apart and then eat the toy, so instead they spray a piece of wood or a log that a big cat can claw or scratch. Lions will hunt alone if the opportunity presents itself, and they also steal kills from hyenas or wild dogs. 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