Tsavo lion

Description:

Tsavo males are notable for their lack of mane and smooth pelt, their size, and that they actively participate in hunting. Tsavo males have been known as man-eaters, particularly involving an incident during the building of the Uganda Railway in the late 19th century.

Habitat:

Tsavo lions (Panthera leo nubica) are a distinct variety of lion living around the Tsavo River in the Tsavo National Park in Kenya.

Notes:

The male lions generally do not have a mane, though colouration and thickness may vary. There are several theories as to why this is. One is that mane development is closely tied to climate because its presence significantly reduces heat loss. Another theory is that manelessness is an adaptation to the thorny vegetation of the Tsavo area in which a mane might hinder hunting. Tsavo males may have heightened levels of testosterone, which could explain both the Tsavo lion's manelessness and its reputation for aggression. Two of these lions are known as the Tsavo man-eaters; they attacked workers on the Kenya-Uganda Railway in 1898. They killed more than 35 people in less than a year before being found and killed by Colonel John Patterson.