TYPES OF LION|DIFFERENT TYPES OF LIONS
Lions are a large cat species belonging to the Felidae Family, and are broadly classified as either African or Asian lions.The two main types of lions are African lions and Asian lions. The former is a group of seven extant lion subspecies inhabiting the African continent while the latter is a single subspecies of lion living in Asia. The lion is the second largest cat species after the tiger. Currently, wild lions are found in large parts of sub-Saharan Africa and India. Strangely, unlike other cat species, lions are highly social in nature and live in large groups called pride consisting of several females, their offsprings, and a few adult males. Lions tend to prefer savanna and grassland habitats but are also found in forests and bush. Lions are expert predators and scavengers and mainly nocturnal by nature. Wild lions survive for about 10 to 14 years while captive ones survive as long as 20 years.
The East African lion or the Masai lion (Panthera leo nubica) is found in East Africa where it occurs in the countries of Kenya, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Tanzania. The Masai lions have less curved backs and longer legs than other subspecies of lion. Moderate tufts of hair are present in the knee joints of males. The manes of the Masai lion appear to be combed backwards, and older males have fuller manes than the younger ones. Male Masai lions living in highlands above 2,600 feet, and have heavier manes than those living in the lowland areas. Male Masai lions attain a length between 8.2 feet and 9.8 feet. Lionesses are smaller with length ranging from 7.5 feet to 8.5 feet.
Congo Lion
The Congo lion or Northeast Congo lion (Panthera leo azandica), was proposed as a lion subspecies from the northeastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and western parts of Uganda. It is also known as the “Uganda lion.”Like many African animals, the Northeast Congo Lions are also an endangered species and the reason is loss of their habitat. Their numbers have fallen by fifty percent in the last two decades. An international breeding program is trying to increase their population.
SouthWest African Lion
The Katanga lion or the Southwest African lion (Panthera leo bleyenberghi) is found in southwestern Africa in the countries of Angola, Zaire, western Zambia and Zimbabwe, Namibia, and northern Botswana. These lions are one of the largest among the all the types of lions. Males attain lengths between 8.2 feet and 10.2 feet while females have a length between 7.5 feet and 8.7 feet. Males weigh around 140–242 kg while females weigh about 105–170 kg. The Katanga lions have a lighter colored manes than other lion subspecies.
The Southwest African Lion or Katanga Lion (Panthera leo bleyenberghi) is a subspecies that lives in southwestern Africa. It is found in Namibia, Zaire, Angola, Botswana and Zambia. Like in other subspecies lionesses do most of the hunting in Katanga lions too. Their prey mostly include zebras, warthogs, antelopes and wildebeests. The males tend to have manes that are lighter in color than other subspecies.
The critically endangered West African lion or the Senegal lion (Panthera leo senegalensis) inhabits western Africa from the Central African Republic to Senegal. The West African lion is the smallest among the sub-Saharan African lions. Only about 1,800 individuals remain as small and fragmented populations in West Africa.
Transvaal Lion
Transvaal Lion (Panthera leo krugeri) or the Southeast African Lion is found in southern Africa, including Kruger National Park. It is so named because it is found in the Transvaal region of South Africa. Like all other subspecies (except the Tsavo), Transvaal males too have mane. Here also lionesses do most of the hunting. They prey on warthogs, Cape buffalo, wildebeest, zebras and occasionally giraffe calves if their normal prey is scarce.
Leucism does occur in these lions, but it is quite rare. It’s a condition typified by reduced pigmentation both in humans and animals alike. Different from albinism, it is caused by lessening of all types of skin pigment, not just melanin.
The Southeast African lion (Panthera leo krugeri) , also known as the Kalahari lion or the Transvaal lion is found in the southern parts of Africa with significant populations in South Africa’s Kruger National Park and Swaziland’s Hlane Royal National Park. Most of the males of this subspecies have a black, well-developed mane. The length of males ranges between 8.5 feet and 10.5 feet while females attain a length between 7.7 feet and 9.0 feet. Male Kalahari lions have a weight of about 150–250 kg while females are 110–182 kg in weight.
Ethiopian lion
The Ethiopian lion or the Abyssinian lion or the Addis Ababa lion (Panthera leo roosevelti) is a type of lion that though originally considered to be the East African lion was classified as a separate subspecies after phenotypic and genotypic analysis on lions kept in captivity in the Addis Ababa’s zoo. Ethiopian lions have darker manes and smaller bodies compared to other lion subspecies, but this could also be the result of living in captivity.
Asiatic Lion
The Asiatic lion or the Indian lion (Panthera leo persica) though once widespread from Turkey across Southwest Asia to the Indian subcontinent, is currently confined to the Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in the Indian state of Gujarat. Only about 523 of this type of lion remain in this forest.
The Asiatic lion is smaller than the largest of the African lions but is similar in size to the Central African lion. The weight of adult male Asiatic lions ranges between 160 kg and 190 kg while that of females ranges from 110 kg to 120 kg. A longitudinal fold of skin running along the belly is the striking morphological feature that helps in the identification of the Asiatic lion. The fur color of the Asiatic lion ranges from ruddy-tawny, buffish-gray or sandy to heavily speckled with black. The lions have a moderate mane growth unlike the African subspecies, and their ears are always visible. The Asiatic lions also exhibit less genetic variation than the African subspecies. These lions are classified as endangered by the IUCN.
