Among the top predators that live on the same planet with us, it is lions that command the most respect and admiration. Nobility and fidelity, courage and courage of a tireless fighter - these qualities made the image of a lion symbolic. Red, blue, white and black lions have perpetuated the coats of arms and flags of many principalities and kingdoms. What color lions can exist in nature? What determines their color? What color is a lion's mane? We will answer these and other questions in the article.
King of Beasts
Lions are large predators that have no enemies in their natural habitat. Biological evolution has brought their fitness to perfection. They have the following characteristics:
- Protective coloring of short hair (what color of lions we will consider in the article below).
- Powerful weapons, namely teeth and claws.
- Amazing ability to go without food, water for a long time.
- Energy saving: the lion rests 20 hours a day and only spends the rest of the time foraging.
- Effective group hunting methods.
- Long and very touching care of the cubs.
And yet they are different
Panthera leo is a mammal from the big cat family. There are eight subspecies of lions, which differ in appearance and distribution area. Among them there are now living on the planet, there are long-extinct ones. Asking the question of what color lions are, we list the main subspecies, namely:
- Panthera leo persica - Indian lions, which today there are about 300 individuals. They are presented exclusively in the Gir forest (India). Listed in the Red Book of the World.
- African subspecies: Panthera leo senegalensis (Senegalese), Panthera leo azandica (Northern Congolese), Panthera leo nubica (Masai), Panthera leo bleyenberghi (West African), Panthera leo krugeri (Transvaal). Recognized as Vulnerable.
All shades of beige
The coat color of a lion depends on the subspecies and can vary from dark brown to light yellow. Thus, African subspecies have lighter shades of wool than their Asian relatives. At the same time, no matter what color the lion is, the lower part of his body always has a lighter shade. And the tip of the tail of both males and females is decorated with a tassel with wool of a darker color.
This coloration is an evolutionary acquisition that allows closeget close to the prey of this animal. What color a lion has - lighter or whiter than dark - depends on the habitat. In the open spaces of the savannah, lions are light beige in color, and in wooded areas they can afford darker shades.
But all this has nothing to do with the lion's mane. What color an animal's mane has depends on completely different factors.
Pride and beauty or flea collector
Lions are the only representatives of the big cat family in which sexual dimorphism (differences between males and females) is very pronounced. Only males are carriers of a lush mane on the head, continuing on the neck and part of the body.
In a hot climate and additional space for many parasites, it is difficult to call this decoration useful for an animal. However, the color of the lion (pictured above) speaks volumes.
A lion's mane is the main indicator of its puberty and the amount of testosterone hormone. It is he who stimulates the growth and saturation of the color of this royal ornament of the male. The thicker and darker the mane, the more aggressive and powerful the animal. This means it has excellent he alth and makes it an excellent protector and breeder. And yet, visually increasing the cat, it gives additional advantages in the fierce struggle of males for a female.
They are not born like this - they are made
Lion cubs are born more often like leopards. Against the background of light wool, they have dark spots that disappear withthe onset of puberty. Although sometimes they remain on the abdomen or legs of the animal (especially in females).
In male lion cubs, the mane appears at the age of about six months. At first it is yellow in color, but then it becomes thicker and darker, reaching its peak by 3 years. And the older the lion, the thicker his mane and has a darker, almost black color. Castrated males do not develop manes.
White beauties
White lions are not a subspecies, but separate individuals that have a genetic pathology - leucism. This is a recessive gene mutation that causes low melanin production and a lighter color.
This mutation is considered quite rare. That is why, until the end of the 20th century, the white lion existed only in myths and legends. Only in 1975, white cubs were first discovered in the Timbavati reserve (Africa). It is in the lion population of this reserve that animals with this coloration are found.
In captivity, white lions are born more often. But this is due to the desires of breeders who allow animals carriers of the recessive allele of the gene to mate. However, lions with leucism are not albinos. They retain normal pigmentation of the iris and mucous membranes.
Black lions - fiction or truth?
Black coloration - melanism - is caused by increased production of melanin and is quite common among cats. A striking example is black leopards, which are called panthers. But this is not a separate biological species, but onlypeculiar coloration of leopards.
If there are black leopards, why can't there be black lions? In nature, in the Okovango region (Africa), a pride of lions with a very dark color has been recorded. They are not black, but rather dark brown. This color appears to be the result of an inbreeding.
Biologists say that a black lion cannot exist in nature. Even if such a kitten is born, he will not be able to survive. First of all, for reasons of violation of the body's thermoregulation, reduced immunity and inability to obtain food. It can be assumed that in captivity such a lion could survive, but so far there have been no corresponding precedents.
Many photos of a black lion that are found on the Internet are just the result of skillful color processing of a photo. There are no real photographs of lions with this color, as well as the animals themselves.
And yet let's not lose hope: nature quite often gives amazing surprises. And besides, there is also genetic engineering. And if the glowing piglets are already running around in the laboratory pens, then the black lions may well become a reality.
