Snapshot Serengeti Talk

lions

  • Bennycatgirl by Bennycatgirl

    i apologize if someone has asked this already, but do lions purr? if yes, is it in similar circumstances to when domestic cats purr (times of apparent comfort or of stress?). and at what age are the young males usually ousted from the group?

    Posted

  • craigpacker by craigpacker scientist

    No, lions don't purr -- the young males usually leave home when they are about 2-2.5 yrs old, though if their fathers stick around long enough, the young males will stay until they are 3 or 4.
    You can find out more about lions at www.lionresearch.org

    Posted

  • Ettina by Ettina

    Big cats roar but don't purr, lesser cats purr but don't roar. It's something to do with a bone in their throat called the hyoid bone, which is formed differently for purring vs roaring. Incidentally, some cats people call 'big cats' are actually very small lesser cats - cheetahs and cougars are the largest lesser cats. Personally, it seems to me that big cats have square jaws, while lesser cats have the 'triangle shape' head that domestic cats have.

    Posted

  • Bennycatgirl by Bennycatgirl

    thanks craig and ettina, great info!

    and the lionresearch.org is a welth of lion info indeed...what a fascinating area of study. 😃

    Posted