What is the difference between Asiatic and African lions?
2024. October 19 - Photos: Getty Images Hungary
2024. October 19 - Photos: Getty Images Hungary
The lion (Panthera leo) is a carnivorous mammal belonging to the Felidae family. Current research suggests that there are two subspecies: P. l. leo and P. l. melanochaita. The first subspecies includes Asiatic lions and populations found in western and northern Central Africa. The second subspecies includes lions from eastern and southern Africa. So, when we talk about Asiatic and African lions, we are not referring to separate subspecies in the strictest sense.
So let’s see how Asiatic and African lions differ!
Asiatic lions are native to India and can only be found in the Gir National Park in Gujarat, India. First described by Austrian zoologist Johann Meyer in 1826, they are considered endangered, with around 500 individuals remaining today.
It is believed that Asiatic lions diverged from their African relatives about 186,000 years ago and migrated to India, where they evolved in isolation after lion populations in the Middle East and Europe went extinct, cutting off genetic flow. Asiatic lions are more closely related to lions in western and northern Africa than to those in eastern and southern Africa.
As mentioned before, the population of Asiatic lions is about 500 individuals. Their survival depends on how successfully they are able to protect and preserve their remaining habitats. Asiatic and African lions face similar threats, including habitat loss, poaching for illegal trade, and human-wildlife conflict.
Male Asiatic lions weigh between 159 and 204 kg, while females vary between 109 and 163, making them smaller than their African relatives. Asiatic males stand between 107 and 120 cm at the shoulder, while females stand between 80 and 107 cm. The largest Asiatic lion ever recorded was 2.95 m long from nose to tail.
Rarely, female lions also grow manes; you can read about it by clicking here. In the present case, however, we are scrutinizing the beauty of the males. The mane of male Asiatic lions is sparser and shorter, so you can see their ears. Another remarkable feature of the mane is its color, as it is particularly dark.
Asiatic lions have more pronounced tufts of fur on both their elbows and tails. The tuft of hair at the end of the tail covers the entire back; its function is not yet clear.
We can observe a long, longitudinal fold of skin under their belly, which is one of their most characteristic features and is unique to them.
Asiatic lions have a feature called bifurcated infraorbital foramina on their skulls. These tiny holes in the skull allow blood vessels and nerves to reach the eye. Any lion skull with these two holes is exclusively an Asiatic lion.
Asiatic lion prides tend to be smaller. The largest ever recorded consisted of 5 adult females, but most prides usually have only 2 females. This is because Asiatic lions hunt smaller animals, so it makes sense that they need less attack power. Another possible reason for this phenomenon is the size of their territory. The Gir National Park is not very big and the hunting area is too narrow for the packs to operate in larger numbers.
Male Asiatic lions usually move independently in pairs and only bond with females during mating season or when hunting larger prey. Independent movement allows them to control a larger area without anything holding them back.
These lions hunt smaller animals for their habitat. The most common prey animal in the Gir forest is the chital deer, which weighs only about 50 kg. Indian water buffaloes are smaller than African water buffaloes, but Asiatic lions mostly avoid them.
The species is widespread throughout Africa, with the largest number found in East Africa. The African lion was first described in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus in his book Systema Naturae. The lions of North and West Africa separated from the lions of East and South Africa about 180,000 years ago, when the expanse of the equatorial forest separated the two regions.
The African lion is one of the world’s most iconic animals, but its population has declined dramatically in recent years. It is estimated that there are only about 20,000 wild lions left in Africa today, occupying only 5% of their former habitat.
African lions are larger than their Asian counterparts. A male African lion weighs between 150 and 227 kg, while females weigh about 157 kg on average. The largest African lion ever recorded weighed almost 363 kg and measured 3.35 m from nose to tail.
Male African lions have a much thicker and more pronounced mane that covers their entire head and falls back to their shoulders, often covering much of their chest. However, it has also been observed in areas of Africa that in the really warm parts the mane is shorter, sparser and lighter, or they don’t have it at all. This happens despite the fact that in their case the crown of hair is also a symbol of strength, health and fertility. However, for practical reasons, it cannot grow to such a size in hotter areas, as the heat stress could be fatal for the animals.
African kings have minimal tufts of fur on their tails and elbows.
African relatives cannot boast of skin folds.
Compared to Asiatic lions, African lions have only one such characteristic hole on their skulls, but this does not mean that their vision is weaker. According to experts, this is just a physical characteristic that they do not possess. The skull of the African lion is also larger than that of the Asiatic lion.
These lions live in larger prides that can consist of up to 6 females and 2 males, plus cubs. Faster and more agile females hunt, while males guard their territory and protect the family from threats. If usurpers succeed in taking control of the pride, they usually kill all the cubs in order to pass on their own offspring.
African lions hunt larger animals such as wildebeest and zebra, weighing between 270 and 360 kg. Buffaloes, which weigh between 450 and 900 kg, are the favorite prey of African lions, which they can only bring down in a well-coordinated hunt.
Click here to meet the Barbary lion, who are probably the model for Zordon’s character.
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