IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Morin-Garraud, S. | |
| Anatomie et ethologie du lion | |
| 2001 Full Book | |
The lion (_Panthera leo_) is large cat-like out of commun run as well at the behavioral level as at the anatomical and physiological level. It lives within a group whose composition varies in the course of time. The stable core is represented by the females, all relationships, which remain all their life in the same troop. The lion cubs remain until the adulthood then are expelled and become temporarily wandering. With the head of the group, one finds one or more males replaced on average the every 2-3 years. The males are charged to supervise and mark a territory whose size varies from one group to another. They are the guarantors of the security of all the members of the troop. During their years of reign, they try to reproduce as much as possible to ensure their descent before being driven out by others younger males. The females are in charge of the hunting and the education of the lions cubs. The life in group has advantages in these 2 activities. Indeed, at the time of hunting, the chances to succeed increase when they are several and they can thus nourrish all the troop. With regard to the lion cubs, they benefit from milk from the other nursing females and other lion cubs, playmates, for their training. By adopting this particular way of life, the lions knew to adapt at the anatomical level. If they show great similarities with the others pantherinae, certain anatomical and physiological modifications are related to the own behaviors of the lion. |
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