Reproduction & Development
Females are poly estrous which means they cycle throughout the year. Like most cats they are induced ovulators. Fights over a lioness in heat by male members of a pride are uncommon. Females in estrous show extreme restlessness: lying down, jumping up, walking rapidly, rolling and twisting on her back. To induce temporary passiveness in a female the male with bite the neck when mating. March through July is when the birthing period is the highest. The average tenure of male coalitions in prides is only 24 months. After this the male will takeover the pride, the incoming males kill small cubs and chase out young inducing females to come into estrus within a few weeks. This is all done because females conceive an average on 138 days after the loss of cubs, where as females with surviving young will not mate again until their young are more than 18 months old. Females will always defend their cubs. The estrus process last 4 days. Inter estrus interval will last 16 days. When giving birth the female lions have their cubs in a den or dense brush. Cubs typically weight 1.2-2.1 kg. The eyes open either right at birth or shortly after. Cubs fur is spotted on belly and on their legs. The litter size is typically between 1 to 4 cubs. The sex ratio is at the least 2:1 favoring the females. This could be a result of adaption because males do not hunt, eat more than their share and a large number of males are not needed in polygynous society.
Male lions possess an iconic mane that encircles their head; females do not. The color of the manes indicates both age and prowess. Fully mature males weigh between 330 and 550 lbs.; females weigh between 265 and 395 lbs. Males can reach lengths of 10 feet, and females are generally less than 9 feet in length. Both sexes reach about 4 feet in height. In the wild, males typically live 12 years; females average 15 years. Physically you can tell the difference between male and female lions as well by the penis and vagina.
Life Stages
Cubs
Cubs began walking within ten days. They remain hidden around four to six weeks until they are mobile. The cubs are raised communally. After six to eight weeks the mother and cubs return to the pride. The first set of milk teeth erupt around 3 weeks, canines at 4 weeks. Milk is the main diet until solid food at around 2 months. It takes 3 to 5 months for a cup to acquire an adult coat. Common cause of cubs are starvation, predation, infanticide, and abandonment.
Large Cubs
Between the ages of 1 to 2 cubs are leopard size, 45 kg. Deciduous canines are replaced with permanent canines at 13.5-15 months. The mane in males consists of crest on head and nape with tufts on the cheeks.
Sub-adults
By the time they are 2 years old lionesses are competent hunters. Females began to slender, with a short muzzle, inconspicuous nipples, and a taut abdomen. Males undergo a 6 month growth spurt around 3.5 years, with light blond beginning of mane. Males leave birth pride around 3.5 years.
Puberty
Both males and females reach sexual maturity around 24 months. Males however, may not produce sperm until 30 months. In the wild, they may not have an opportunity to reproduce until the age of five.
Young Adults
Most females have first litter around the age of 4. Most males leave the pride by the age of 4. The male lions mane can be seen clearly. Both the male and female lions continue growth until the age of 6.
Prime
Females can breed until they are 15 years old but reproduction begins to decline at about 11 years old. Males as old as 16 can produce viable sperm, but reproduction probably ceases afte pride tenure is lost.
Females are poly estrous which means they cycle throughout the year. Like most cats they are induced ovulators. Fights over a lioness in heat by male members of a pride are uncommon. Females in estrous show extreme restlessness: lying down, jumping up, walking rapidly, rolling and twisting on her back. To induce temporary passiveness in a female the male with bite the neck when mating. March through July is when the birthing period is the highest. The average tenure of male coalitions in prides is only 24 months. After this the male will takeover the pride, the incoming males kill small cubs and chase out young inducing females to come into estrus within a few weeks. This is all done because females conceive an average on 138 days after the loss of cubs, where as females with surviving young will not mate again until their young are more than 18 months old. Females will always defend their cubs. The estrus process last 4 days. Inter estrus interval will last 16 days. When giving birth the female lions have their cubs in a den or dense brush. Cubs typically weight 1.2-2.1 kg. The eyes open either right at birth or shortly after. Cubs fur is spotted on belly and on their legs. The litter size is typically between 1 to 4 cubs. The sex ratio is at the least 2:1 favoring the females. This could be a result of adaption because males do not hunt, eat more than their share and a large number of males are not needed in polygynous society.
Male lions possess an iconic mane that encircles their head; females do not. The color of the manes indicates both age and prowess. Fully mature males weigh between 330 and 550 lbs.; females weigh between 265 and 395 lbs. Males can reach lengths of 10 feet, and females are generally less than 9 feet in length. Both sexes reach about 4 feet in height. In the wild, males typically live 12 years; females average 15 years. Physically you can tell the difference between male and female lions as well by the penis and vagina.
Life Stages
Cubs
Cubs began walking within ten days. They remain hidden around four to six weeks until they are mobile. The cubs are raised communally. After six to eight weeks the mother and cubs return to the pride. The first set of milk teeth erupt around 3 weeks, canines at 4 weeks. Milk is the main diet until solid food at around 2 months. It takes 3 to 5 months for a cup to acquire an adult coat. Common cause of cubs are starvation, predation, infanticide, and abandonment.
Large Cubs
Between the ages of 1 to 2 cubs are leopard size, 45 kg. Deciduous canines are replaced with permanent canines at 13.5-15 months. The mane in males consists of crest on head and nape with tufts on the cheeks.
Sub-adults
By the time they are 2 years old lionesses are competent hunters. Females began to slender, with a short muzzle, inconspicuous nipples, and a taut abdomen. Males undergo a 6 month growth spurt around 3.5 years, with light blond beginning of mane. Males leave birth pride around 3.5 years.
Puberty
Both males and females reach sexual maturity around 24 months. Males however, may not produce sperm until 30 months. In the wild, they may not have an opportunity to reproduce until the age of five.
Young Adults
Most females have first litter around the age of 4. Most males leave the pride by the age of 4. The male lions mane can be seen clearly. Both the male and female lions continue growth until the age of 6.
Prime
Females can breed until they are 15 years old but reproduction begins to decline at about 11 years old. Males as old as 16 can produce viable sperm, but reproduction probably ceases afte pride tenure is lost.