Colder climates turn lions into mane attractions
Thursday April 13 2006
in London
THE king of the beasts is most magnificent when the weather is cold, scientists have found.
Male lions grow longer, thicker manes in cooler climates, making themselves more attractive to females.
Up to one-half of the length and density of a zoo lion's mane can be attributed to temperature - rather than nutrition, social factors, individual history, or genes, say researchers.
Thick manes act like a scarf or fur hat to prevent heat-loss. The scientists, who examined 19 lions in 17 zoos in the US, found those in cooler northern regions grew bigger manes, while the reverse was true for those in hotter southern states.
The differences were not a result of natural selection, but a trait that could be matched to local conditions.
Like antlers and peacock tail feathers, the primary purpose of a lion's mane is to attract females and intimidate male rivals.
But the lion's crowning glory comes at a cost to the animal.
Not only does it take energy to grow and maintain, but it also makes it harder to sneak up unnoticed on prey, harbours parasites, gets entangled in brambles, and retains heat.
