Lions on the Hunt in Africa

African Lions Use Build and Skill to Hunt

Nov 5, 2008 Yolande Pienaar

The physical appearance and social structure of African Lions contribute to their successful hunting techniques.

To understand how African Lions hunt, it is important to investigate the tools they use to obtain food. The anatomy of the Lion plays an integral part in the methods used to kill the prey, while the social structure of the pride often determines what type of prey would be the target.

Teeth, Tongue, Coloring, Claws and Strength are Used in the Hunt

Lions have long and curved canine teeth, which enable them to grip their prey securely and penetrate the thick skin of the prey. Their sharp, backward - slanting papillae (small nipple-shaped protuberances on the tongue enclosing the taste buds) assist in stripping the meat from the bone and the hair from the hide of the prey.

The coloring of lions varies from yellow to reddish brown, depending on their habitat. This coloring provides excellent camouflage to the lion when stalking the prey and blends in with the grass or bush of their habitat.

A lion's huge paw is equipped with long and sharp retractable claws. When hunting the lion grips the prey and sinks the claws deep into the animal, preventing escape. Lions use the claws to rip the skin of the prey open.

Powerful muscles, agility and speed over short distances enable lions to hunt successfully.

Lions Stalk their Prey

African Lions hunt mostly when lighting conditions are poor, such as early morning, late afternoon and at night. Their keen sense of smell and hearing alert them when prey is near. The pride either walks in single file or fan out in a loose formation when searching for prey.

Once prey is spotted, the lion lowers its head and body, staying close to the ground without losing sight of the prey. When the prey looks away or start feeding again the lion will creep closer. Bush and savanna provide good camouflage during stalking and lions will use all the cover available to hide. They can remain motionless for long periods while waiting for the prey to look away or feed.

From a distance of 10 to 30 meters away, the lion quietly bursts from the cover and launches itself at the prey. The rest of the pride usually follows. Lions do not have the stamina to chase prey over long distances and most of the prey can easily outrun the lion, therefore it is important for the lion to get as close as possible to the prey before it starts the attack.

Lions Kill Prey Mostly by Suffocation

Lion burst from cover and grabs the prey with its forelegs, sinking the claws deep into the flesh of the animal. Usually a twist of the body of the lion is enough to bring the prey to the ground. The prey is killed by smothering the animal, either by biting down on the nose, or sinking the large canine teeth into the neck.

A single Lion can kill small animals, but when they hunt larger animals like Zebra and Buffalo, the pride work together as a team. The pride will surround the animal and cut of all avenues of escape. More than one Lion will then participate in bringing the animal to the ground.

Although the Lionesses usually do the hunting, the male Lion will feed first. The females then follow and share what is left of the meal after which the cubs will be allowed their share.

Lions truly are the ultimate predators of the African bush.

Sources: Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia, Lions

:David Shelburne,The African Lion

The copyright of the article Lions on the Hunt in Africa in Mammals is owned by Yolande Pienaar. Permission to republish Lions on the Hunt in Africa in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

The African Lion Close Up