why do lions have manes?
It’s the only cat, wild or domestic, that displays such ornamentation. In Tsavo she was attacking the riddle from the opposite angle. Why do its lions not have manes? (Some “maneless” lions in Tsavo East do have partial manes, but they rarely attain the regal glory of the Serengeti lions’.) Does environmental adaptation account for the trait? Are the lions of Tsavo, as some people believe, a distinct subspecies of their Serengeti cousins? The Serengeti lions have been under continuous observation for more than 35 years, beginning with George Schaller’s pioneering work in the 1960s. But the lions in Tsavo, Kenya’s oldest and largest protected ecosystem, have hardly been studied. (Tsavo’s nearly as big as Massachusetts at more than 8,000 square miles (20,720 square kilometers), ranging from an arid eastern half to green western hills that look out toward the ice-crowned peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, 75 miles (120.7 kilometers) away.) Consequently, legends have grown up around them. Not only
by Mya Kagan (whyzz writer) >> more about the author Only male lions have manes, and nobody knows exactly why they have them, although there are a few pretty good ideas! One reason why lions might have manes is to help them look bigger. While lions are considered to be “king of the jungle,” that doesn’t keep them safe from attack by other animals. But if another animal looks at a lion and think he’s really huge because of the large, furry mane, then the animal might be less likely to come near! Another reason for the male lions to have manes might be to attract female lionesses. Just like male peacocks have bright, showy tails to attract the females, male lions might use their big manes to get the attention of the lionesses!
Rose of Lincoln, NE Dear Rose, Only male lions have manes. Lion families live in a group called a pride. Male lions protect their pride from intruders. The mane helps the male lion in at least two ways. First, it makes him look larger and stronger than he really is. This may make an intruder leave without fighting. Second, the mane helps protect the lion while fighting. The long, thick hair around its head, neck, and shoulders softens the blows of its enemy.
