The Lion: Predatory Animal Series
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| Male and Female lion resting |
The Lion
The lion is one of the most popular animals in the world. It has been a symbol of power, strength, and nobility. The lion has been a powerful symbol in mythology, religion, and heraldry for centuries.
The word "lion" comes from
the Latin word "leo", which means "lion". The ancient
Greeks called it "leon". Its Scientific name is
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| lion Stare |
The Classification of the lion
A taxonomy is a hierarchical
classification of organisms. The lion is a mammal and its taxonomy is as
follows:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Panthera
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| the rare Timbavati Lion |
The Subspecies of the lion
The lion is the second-largest
living cat after the tiger. There are eight recognized subspecies of lion.
The eight subspecies of the lion are:
- African Lion
- Asiatic Lion
- Barbary Lion
- Indian Lion
- Indo-Chinese or Corbett’s Lion
- Javan Lion
- West African lion
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| Lioness stare |
The fossil records of the lion
The fossil records of the lion have
been discovered in the Serengeti plains of Tanzania. Fossils were found in the
1960s and they indicate that lions may have originated from Africa.
To date, fossils of lions have been
found in Africa, India, and Europe. The fossils that were found in Kenya and
Tanzania are believed to be around 2 million years old.
The Hybrids of the lion
Hybrids of the lion are a hybrid of
a lion and other animals. The most common hybrids are the liger, which is a
hybrid of a male lion and female tiger, and the tigon which is a hybrid of a male
tiger and female lion.
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| lioness sticking out her tongue |
The general description of the lion
The lion is the second-largest
living cat in the world, but it is not the largest. The lion can be found in
sub-Saharan Africa and in India. The lion has a mane that is made up of black
hair. The males have a longer mane than the females do.
The male lions are
typically larger in size than the females”. This difference in size between males and
females is one of the ways that people can tell them apart.
The lion hunts its prey by stalking
it until it gets close enough to attack with its teeth and claws.
The Distribution and habitat of the lion
The lion is a large member of the
cat family. It is the second-largest living cat, after the tiger. The lion
lives in Africa and Southern Asia.
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| lion cub waiting to be king |
The Reproduction and life cycle of a lion
The reproduction and life cycle of
lions is a fascinating process. Lions are social animals that live in prides.
They are carnivores, meaning they eat meat. A pride consists of one male,
several females and their cubs. The female lion mates with the male lion during
the mating season. After mating, the female will go into heat again after a
period of two weeks to four weeks.
The gestation period can last up to three months and results in one to four cubs being born live or two to six cubs being born dead that were stillborn or aborted early on in the pregnancy due to lack of resources such as food or water for the mother lioness. The mother will nurse her cubs for about six months before they start eating meat on their own and become independent at the age of two years. The lion's fur is short and thick, and the color varies from sandy blonde to reddish-brown or black. The underparts are white or cream with faint spots.
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| Lion resting in the sun |
Cultural significance of lions in Africa
Cultural significance of lions in
Africa
The lion is one of the most iconic
animals in Africa. In many African cultures, the lion is a symbol of power and
strength. It’s believed that lions are the king of all animals and that they have
the power to control rain and lightning storms. The lion is also a symbol for
courage and can be found on many flags from African countries such as South
Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Tanzania, Namibia and Senegal.
In African cultures, it’s believed
that when you see a lion in your dream it means that you will become rich, powerful, or famous.
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| Lion cub with Lioness |
Cultural significance of lions in the Eastern world
Lions have been a symbol of power
and royalty in the East for centuries. The lion is one of the four living creatures
in the Chinese constellations, along with the deer, dragon, and turtle. It is
also one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac.
In many Eastern cultures, lions are
considered to be a symbol of courage and bravery. In Hinduism and Buddhism,
lions represent strength and power.
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| Lion profile |
Cultural significance of lions in the Western world
Lions have been a symbol of strength
and power in the Western world since ancient times. The lion is the king of the
jungle and in many cultures, it is the animal that symbolizes bravery.
The lion has been used as a symbol
for many countries, including England and Scotland. It was also used as a
mascot for teams like Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Chelsea. The animal
has also been used as an emblem for various organizations such as Lions Club
International, which was founded by Melvin Jones in 1917.
all images in this post and series are available for
Lion laying down 
Lion the King 
Lioness Hunting 
lioness resting behind a rock
all images in this post and series are available for purchase at Predatory Animals or by clicking the image link within the post.
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