Lionnn

When zebras and wildebeest are numerous, lions feed almost exclusively on them. The lion usually eats every two or three days, but is able to do without food for several weeks. Hunger becomes a serious danger after herds begin seasonal migration across the plains. Thus, a lioness with helpless newborn lion cubs is sometimes left alone when herds of ungulates migrate, followed by her pride.

At dusk, hunting tactics change, lionesses one after another walk silently in the dark and surround a herd of ungulates. If the males help them, a few menacing roars will drive the frightened animals to where the lions are waiting for them. Thus, they feed on large animals such as elephants, rhinos, hippos, large buffaloes, agile gazelles. They also rarely attack them in droves.

Lions live in the steppes and savannas and prey on medium and large animals, first of all, on spearfish. They help the collective way of life to get big animals (buffaloes and giraffes). The leftists diverge and occupy certain positions. There are left-wingers, they sneak up on the victims at a short distance, then rush to the prey, directing the selected animal to the group that sees the ambush. In addition, they help to encourage greater ability if brute force and weight are required.

The lifestyle of lions is not typical for large cats. Lions live in large family groups - prides. They receive and look after the cubs, mostly by themselves, while guarding the territory. Fights for the most often end up mixing a male defender or challenger. Some prides specialize in one type of ability (there are lions that hunt elephants). An adult is able to visit more than 30 kg of meat at a time. A full lion can sleep for 20 hours. Representatives of other cats, such as cheetahs and leopards, are killed on occasion. Sometimes their victims are hyenas.

The weight of females is 100-150 kg, in some cases up to 160 kg. The heaviest lion was killed in 1936 in the Transvaal, he weighed 313 kg (Guinness Book of Records). Usually animals in captivity are larger. In 1970, a record weight of 375 kg was registered at the London Zoo. The lion differs from its closest relative the tiger in body proportions. Yes, the tiger is a little longer, and the lion is taller in the shoulders and has a slightly more elongated skull, but basically these two big cats are about the same size and the same strength. For example, the force of a tiger and lion bite can reach 450 kg, and the force of a paw strike reaches 180 kg, the speed of a paw strike reaches 6 m / s.

Lions are the only cats in which males are clearly different from females. Adult male lions have a large mane and are much larger than lionesses. The lion is considered an adult at the age of 5 and by this time is gaining its optimal "combat" size. Males weigh 150-225 kg, in some cases - up to 240 kg with a body length without tail 1.7-2.5 m, tail - 90-110 cm, height at the withers 90-125 cm.