Asiatic Lion

Asiatic Lion

TheAsiatic lion(Panthera leo persica), also known as theIndian lionorPersian lion,[3]is alionsubspeciesthat exists as a single population inIndia'sGujaratstate.It is listed asEndangeredbyIUCNdue its small population size.[1]Since 2010, the lion population in theGir Forest National Parkhas steadily increased.[4]In May 2015, the 14th Asiatic Lion Census was conducted over an area of about 20,000 km2(7,700 sq mi); the lion population was estimated at 523 individuals, comprising 109 males, 201 females and 213 cubs.[5][6]The Asiatic lion was first described by theAustrianzoologist Johann N. Meyer under thetrinomenFelis leo persicus.[7]The Asiatic lion is one of fivebig catspeciesfound in India, apart fromBengal tiger,Indian leopard,snow leopardandclouded leopard.[8]It formerly occurred inPersia,Israel,Mesopotamia,Baluchistan, fromSindhin the west toBengalin the east, and fromRampurandRohilkundin the north toNerbuddain the south. It differs from theAfrican lionby less inflatedauditory bullae, a largertailtuft and a less developedmane.[9]CharacteristicsThe most striking morphological character, which is always seen inAsiatic lions, and rarely in African lions, is a longitudinal fold of skin running along its belly.[10]Asiatic lions are slightly smaller than African lions. Adult males weigh 160 to 190 kg (350 to 420 lb), while females weigh 110 to 120 kg (240 to 260 lb).[11]The height at the shoulders is about 3.5 ft (110 cm).[12]The record total length of a male Asiatic lion is 2.92 m (115 in) including the tail.[13]Thefurranges in colour from ruddy-tawny, heavily speckled withblack, to sandy or buffish-grey, sometimes with a silvery sheen in certain lights. Males have only moderate mane growth at the top of the head, so that their ears are always visible. The mane is scanty on the cheeks and throat with where it is only 4 in (10 cm) long. About half of Asiatic lionskullsfrom the Gir forest have dividedinfraorbital foramina, whereas in African lions, there is only one...

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