Lions
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Males and Females
Only male lions grow manes, the impressive fringe of long hair that covers their heads. Males defend the prides territory, which include about 100 square miles of grasslands, scrub, or open woodlands. These intimidating animals mark their territory with urine, roars to warn intruders, and chase off animals that appear on their turf.Female lions are the prides primary hunters. They often work together to prey on antelopes, zebras, wildebeest, and other large animals of the open grasslands. Many of these animals are faster than lions, so teamwork pays off. Female Lions do most of the hunting, while the Male Lions are looking after their young.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Panthera
Species: Leo
These kings of the jungle can weigh between 250 and 550 pounds, depending on sex and age and can grow up to be 14 years old in the wild and over the age of 20 years old in captivity. They become capable at hunting at the age of two and are fully grown after 5 or 6 years. Lions have a devised a system of living in groups called prides thats based around related females. The majority of the pride, consisting of approximately 15 individuals and can sometimes even reach 40 individuals, is female with only a handful of male. Male cubs eventually leave and typically become nomads before taking over their own group as the territorial male and father of all cubs. They only leave the pride when challenged by other males and are forced to leave or are killed. Nomads usually travel lone or in pairs, most of the time being related males. If a female nomad attempts to join a pride, it is usually very difficult as the other lionesses reject their intruder who is not related to them.