Chapter 1 MIGHT AND MANE The sun is setting on another scorching day in Africa Antelope stop for one last drink at the nearest watering hole A few stray from the herd but the smart ones stick together Perhaps they know the lions are just waking up
It's easy to see why the lion is often called the king of the beasts Lions are among the largest cats in the world Male lions weigh between 350 and 500 pounds 159 to 227 kilograms Their bodies are between 5 and 8 feet 1 5 and 2 4 meters long Females or lionesses are smaller They weigh from 250 to 400 pounds 113 and 181 kg and measure about 5 feet 1 5 m long A lion's tail is usually between 24 and 36 inches 61 and 91 centimeters long Size Comparison Chart The average height of an American male is 5 feet 10 inches 178 cm
THE MANE EVENT It isn't just a lion's size that makes it look like royalty Like everything else about a lion its head is huge Adult male lions have manes This long thick fur surrounds the animal's head and makes the lion look even larger than he is A male lion's mane isn't just for looks It also protects the lion's neck from the claws of other animals during fights Big Cat Fact Male lions without manes have been discovered in some parts of eastern Africa Scientists believe these lions may have adapted to their climate Without manes the lions stay cooler in the higher temperatures of this area Female lions do not have manes This difference makes it easy to tell a male lion from a female All lions have short sandy brown fur A male's mane is darker than the fur on the rest of its body A lion's mane often gets darker as the animal grows older
LION LIFE Lions live in Africa from Senegal to Somalia They are also found in the southern areas of the continent Many lions live in the savanna a flat grassy area with few trees But some have habitats in the mountains of Ethiopia and Kenya Big Cat Fact The natural life span of a lion in the wild is about 15 years Wild females usually live a few years longer than males Lions in zoos can live up to 30 years habitat colorthe natural place and natural conditions in which an animal or plant lives
