Habitat
Grasslands and open woodland.

Niche
Carnivorous: when hunting in a pride they eat large mammals like zebras. During drought, the pride splits up and individuals eat smaller mammals because they are easier to catch. A pride can have as few as 3-4 individuals or as many as a few dozen individuals. Ruler of pride is a male who often has support of 1 or 2 male cohorts. Females and their young make up most of the pride. Young males are usually expelled from pride by age 3. Young bachelors, in groups of 2-3, will periodically try to take over a reigning monarch. Once a monarch is beaten, it leaves the pride (if still alive).

Life History
Males mate with several females during the same period, so more than one mother has young of the same age. This lets some mothers hunt while others stay in charge of cubs. Lionesses mature at 4 years. Cubs are raised in a “nursery area” shielded from bad weather and from hyenas or leopards. After a 3.5-month gestation, 2-4 cubs are born. Cubs begin an all-meat diet at 4 months. By 6 months they begin to participate in hunts. Cubs usually will not kill by themselves till they are over 1 year old.

Special Adaptations

• Thick mane helps male look bigger and protects the throat.
• Tawny coat color camouflages animal and young among scrub vegetation.
• Eyes in front allow for depth perception and ability to judge distances when stalking or ambushing prey.
• Heavily muscled forelimbs and shoulders add strength for capturing large prey.
• Forepaws equipped with long, retractile claws which help to grab and hold prey.
• Rough tongue designed to peel skin of prey animal away from flesh, and flesh from bone.
• Resonating roar used to warn intruders of territorial boundaries and to communicate with other members of the group occupying the same area.
• Loose belly skin allows animal to be kicked by prey with little chance of injury.