TIGERS: At the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum
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| Cats by John Seidensticker and Susan Lumpkin Zoo Store Online |
Lions are known for their ability to sleep the day away,
but here are some interesting lion tidbits to watch
for when you visit them at the Zoo—even if they're
sleeping!
Sleeping
As the largest predator in their habitat, lions can
afford to snooze for long periods of time without risking
their lives. Sleeping may also make their meals last
longer—a real benefit when you only eat an average
of every other day. Lions also tend to be more alert
at night, so catching them awake during the day is more
of a challenge. Even with nighttime activity, they may
still sleep up to 20 hours a day.
Yawning
It stands to reason that sleepy lions would yawn a lot,
but lions also yawn when they are nervous or uncomfortable.
Scent Marking
Defining and defending a territory is an important
part of a lion’s life. One way lions define the
boundaries of their territory is by scent marking, which
involves spraying a mixture of urine and chemicals from
a gland at the base of their tail. They detect scents
from other lions by using a special organ in their mouth,
behind their front teeth. If you see a lion with a wrinkled-up
nose, open mouth, and uplifted chin, the lion is trying
to read the meaning of someone else’s scent marking.
Roaring
Another way lions communicate is by roaring. Their roars
can be heard up to five miles away!
Muzzle Spots
In the field, scientists use muzzle spots to identify
individual lions. Above the top row of whisker spots,
there are some extra spots that vary from lion to lion.
They may even vary from one side of the face to the
other. Since each lion is born with a different arrangement
of muzzle spots, they are a good tool for distinguishing
individuals.
Tongues
If you are fortunate enough to see a lion yawn, take
a peak at that huge, pink tongue. It is covered with
hard, sharp papillae, rough enough to scrape meat from
bones or make your skin bleed. To feel for yourself,
check out our Tiger Tracks kids area at the Great Cats
exhibit, where you can run your hand over a model of
a big cat tongue!
