The majority of the lion population exists in the wild forests of Africa and the Sahara desert.Some proportion of wild lions also exist in Gir forest, India. The lions found in India are closely related to those found in western Africa.In India, the Gir forest is the only home for wild lions to roam around freely. You might find it interesting to know that a male lion weighs more than a female lion. Male lions weigh around 418 lb (190 kg) whereas the average weight of a female lion is only 264 lb (120 kg). Lions use this weight and the strength that comes with it to hunt their prey.Various species of lions are present amongst the wildlife on Earth. All lions have manes. The mane makes a lion look more magnificent and royal than the lioness. The color of manes differs depending on the age of the lion. The fact is that the older they, get the darker their mane becomes. Apart from adding beauty to lions, the mane also acts as a protective shield against attacks directed towards their neck and head. It is interesting to know that all the cubs belonging to the same pride are raised together.The females look after each of the cubs irrespective of which one is actually theirs. The pride usually consists of either a single male or a small number of male members for added protection. These fascinating creatures hunt even on stormy nights. As they can see well in the dark, they use the noise of the storm to move towards the prey undetected and hunt them. The females are either at the center of the hunt or chase the animals towards the center. They are powerful and their entire family has sharp teeth specifically designed to tear through the skin of their prey. They are scientifically referred to as Panthera leo. After reading all about the appearance of males and females, do check out our roarsome lion facts, and find out the answer to do bats lay eggs?What color is a lion’s fur?Most lions seem to have a yellowish-brown coat. The shades may differ just like the differences in human skin color, however, it is always a shade of yellow and brown. It might be dark or light, it may be more yellowish or more towards the brown shade but nothing apart from that.The cub of a lion is often of a light shade. A male cub does not have a mane, it develops as he grows older and more powerful. Cubs generally have spots on their body, and they are usually brown. These spots disappear on their own as the cub grows older. It is a fact that the shades of a lion are brown and yellow because they tend to live in the grasslands and this coat helps them to hide, undetected from their prey. As male lions of various species grow older, their mane slowly turns black along with the tip of their tail. Their dark mane and light coat act as the perfect camouflage, even at night.These wild African and Asian species have powerful appearances. Some species have long manes, covering their forelimbs while some have white coats and fur. White lions are extremely rare. Even within white lions, there are variations. Some of them have white fur, some have white coats with brown or black manes while others have a light brown almost white shade of mane. The cubs of white lions look like little, white fur balls. They are specifically found in the South Africa region. White lions do exist and the reason for their changed color is a rare change in their genes.What color are a lion’s eyes?The color of the eyes is not the same for all animals. This is true for humans and also for lions and their cubs. All lions have a shade of brown or amber in their eyes. The eye color of white lions is also brown or amber. This is probably because even though their skin lacks brown pigmentation, their eyes don’t. An interesting fact is that certain rare white lions have blue eyes. This is the rarest of rare cases. When light falls on the eyes of most lions, whether male or female, it gets reflected as red or golden. This gives a very majestic look to this powerful animal.Another interesting fact is that cubs are born blind. They cannot see anything for the first three to four days after they are born. When they open their eyes and start seeing, there is some difficulty because their vision is not very clear. They require constant support and care from the females in the pride. As they open their eyes, they are a shade of gray or blue. Over two to three months, the eyes start turning into a shade of brown or amber. Both male and female lions can see well at night.The Panthera leo hunts better on moonless nights as the light from the moon tends to hinder their night vision ability. Lions have binocular vision. This essentially means that they can see everything that is happening in front of them but to see what is happening on the sides, they will have to move their entire head. Humans can see sideways without moving their heads even by a single centimeter; lions cannot do that. However, their binocular vision assists them in locating prey that is far away and they are pretty quick on their feet.What is the color of a lion mane?A lion’s mane on its face starts as a light shade of brown or black. The mane appears at the age of six months. As the lion becomes older, the shade becomes dark. In some parts of Africa, maneless lions have also been observed. Although this goes against the traditional image of lions, it is true and can be seen in Kenya, Tanzania, and several other locations. This is especially true for the African species.Experiments have found that in the animal kingdom, a lion with a long, dark mane is considered most powerful. All other animals are scared of them. Even the female lions tend to choose the male who has a long and dark mane. By nature, however, it has been found that males with dark, long manes have trouble staying cool and tend to become more aggressive than lions without manes or with light, short manes. Barbary lions are known to be the strongest among the lion species. These were mountain species with long, dark manes. Only a few lions of this species are alive and have been kept in captivity, to protect them against poachers.How does a lion’s color help in their habitat?Different lions have different colors in order to thrive in their habitat. Lions mostly live in grasslands, where there are vast lands of tall, brownish grass. This matches the shade of the lion’s coat and acts as the perfect camouflage to hide and attack. The Panthera leo take advantage of their habitat and attach survival meaning to it. Lions can hide in plain sight and appear as part of the habitat itself.They are stealthy and the fur of this animal goes well with the background. These animals are part of a wild species but are family-oriented. They always stay in their family and protect one another. The fur helps the entire family to move undetected in the Gir forest and the African grasslands and deserts. Both lions and tigers have shades of brown and yellow in them. This is primarily to blend with their surroundings and assist in their survival. The mountain lions and white lions that roam the hilly, cold regions camouflage well with the mountainside vegetation and snowHere at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for What color is a lion? Interesting facts on lion’s appearance for kids! then why not take a look at Curious Facts: Do whales have teeth? The answer might surprise you!, or Is a fox a dog? Not really! 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The majority of the lion population exists in the wild forests of Africa and the Sahara desert.
