African lions are normally tawny colored. For centuries, rumors of the mysterious white lion circulated South Africa. Legend had it that white lions would emerge from the bush only once every century to show their pure white coats, representing the good in all creatures. Scattered reports of their existence began in 1928 and continued over the next 47 years, until a litter containing two white cubs was seen at Timbavati Game Reserve, Africa in 1975. Timbavati lions are the only white lions known to be in existence. The white lion is not albino; it carries the recessive white gene. The unique genetic combination that results in a white lion is widely considered to be eliminated in the wild population today.
Like other cats, lions have excellent senses. Since they are primarily nocturnal (meaning most active at night) their night vision is six times greater than that of humans. Well-developed whiskers and other long stiff hairs above their eyes and on their underarms have nerve connections and are used for sensing. They also have a well-developed sense of smell which they use to communicate with other lions who mark their territory.
Two distinctive features set lions apart from all other wild cats; they are social felines (other cats are typically solitary in the wild) and they are the only cats to exhibit a distinction between males and females - males have a mane.
Another unique feature of lions is their tongues. They have short, horny backward pointing hooks on the upper surface which aids in grooming and for holding and lacerating food.
Reproduction
Lions are able to have cubs at around three - four years of age. Gestation is between three - four months. When lions are ready to give birth to their litter -- usually about three - four cubs -- they go off alone to a den isolated from the rest of the pride. Mother and cubs then return to the pride after approximately three months. Males guard the cubs while the females hunt, playing with them and teaching them life skills by wrestling. The cubs will participate in their first hunt when they are about 11 months old.
Depending on the pride, young males either leave or are driven out around age two. Young females usually remain with the pride unless the quantity of females becomes too large.
Behavior
Lions are social animals that live in prides of between four and 37 cats. The pride usually consists of a core of four to 12 related adult females, their offspring and one to six adult males. In the pride, females do most of the hunting, when they work together to form an ambush.
Lions spend more than 80 percent of their time conserving energy. Conserving energy is important for animals that are big and bulky and that live in areas where getting food is challenging. As a result, lions spend up to 20 hours a day resting or sleeping.
Lions have nine distinct vocalizations including roars, grunts and growls. The position of their hyoid apparatus, a bone at the base of the skull, means lions can only purr when they exhale. Pride members also rub cheeks when they meet.