Asiatic Lion - Biology and Behavior

Biology and Behavior

Asiatic lions are similar to African forms, though they have less-swollen tympanic bullae, shorter post-orbital constriction, and usually have divided infraorbital foramen. Their colours range from reddish-brown to a highly mottled black to sandy cinnamon grey.

Their size corresponds to that of central African lions. In adult males, the maximum skull length is 340 mm (13 in), while that of females is 266–277 mm. They reach a weight of 160–200 kg (350–440 lb) for the males and 110–120 kg (240–260 lb) for the females. The scientific record for the longest male is of 292 cm (115 in), while the maximum height to the shoulders reported is of 107 cm (42 in). Captain Smee hunted a male which was 2.68 m (8.8 ft) long and weighed 223.3 kg (492 lb), excluding the entrails. The largest known wild male, in the hunting records, was 3.06 m (10.0 ft) in length.

Asiatic lions are highly social animals, living in units called prides. Their lion prides are smaller than those of African lions, with an average of only two females, whereas an African pride has an average of four to six. The Asiatic males are less social and only associate with the pride when mating or on a large kill. This may be because their prey animals are smaller than those in Africa, requiring fewer hunters to tackle them. Asiatic lions prey predominantly on deer (sambar and chital), antelope (nilgai), gazelle (chinkara), wild boar, water buffalo and livestock.