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On the Nature and Significance of Variability in Lions (Panthera leo)

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Abstract

Although the lion is one of nature’s best-known species, much remains to be learned about its variability. Recently documented variation in genetics, morphology, ecology and behavior help to explain its adaptability and illustrate the inter-dependencies of biological responses at different organizational scales.

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Acknowledgements

I am grateful to S.M. Kasiki, R.W. Kays, A. Mwazo, and J.M. Dubach for their many contributions to my thinking on lions, as well as hundreds of Earthwatch volunteers for their time and energy in helping me to study them. Edward Hobson and Chryssee Martin recognized and documented the natural experiment presented in Fig. 1, with the help of Festus Kioko, and Bennet Bronson and Karen Wilson produced the image for Fig. 3. Research behind this review has been supported by the Field Museum, the Kenya Wildlife Service, the Earthwatch Institute (#5123) and the National Geographic Society (#7208–02).

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  1. Department of Zoology, Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL, 60605-2496, USA

    Bruce D. Patterson

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Patterson, B.D. On the Nature and Significance of Variability in Lions (Panthera leo). Evol. Biol. 34, 55–60 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11692-007-9003-6

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