lion kings of forest: Temprature Of Lion Body

Males have a long mane, usually dark brown, but in some cases, black, light brown or tan. The lions of Tsavo National Park, for their part are devoid of manes. The mane appears around the age of three years and extends to the cheeks above the shoulders, sometimes also on the belly and chest. The shape and color of males can vary not only between individuals but also in the same individual during his life according to its physical constitution.

A long, dark mane is an indicator of a good constitution and a large fighting force, because the hormonal status and nutrition have an effect on the thickness and the length of crinière Experimental tests with manes stuffed showed that females respond positively to models with a long, dark mane, and that males avoid models with pronounced manes. The explanation is that dark and thick mane is a handicap, because it captures and retains heat. Males and disabled, but nevertheless "survivors", was revealed to be the carriers of better genes. This is proved by the fact that an animal weakened in one way or another has a mane clearer and less important (changes in appearance of the manes were observed in the same individual over time)
In practice, the mane may be a protection against claws in combat against rival males.

Thermographic image of a lion

Moreover, recent research also showed that temperature also has an important effect on the length of the mane, and males of colder regions, even regardless of subspecies, forms mane more important than those living in hot areas. Thus, males of zoos more continental climates are most often a mane much larger than their counterparts in countries remained more chauds

Among Asian lions, and some specimens of West Africa (the park of Pendjari in Benin, for example), the mane is clearly less pronounced than their African cousins, the hairs are unique also be thinner.

Post a Comment