Abstract
It has been proposed that there is a thermal cost of the mane to male lions, potentially leading to increased body surface temperatures (T s), increased sperm abnormalities, and to lower food intake during hot summer months. To test whether a mane imposes thermal costs on males, we measured core body temperature (T b) continuously for approximately 1 year in 18 free‐living lions. There was no difference in the 24‐hr maximum T b of males (n = 12) and females (n = 6), and males had a 24‐hr mean T b that was 0.2 ± 0.1°C lower than females after correcting for seasonal effects. Although feeding on a particular day increased 24‐hr mean and 24‐hr maximum T b, this phenomenon was true of both male and female lions, and females had higher 24‐hr mean and 24‐hr maximum T b than males, on both days when lions did not feed, and on days when lions did feed. Twenty‐four‐hour T b was not influenced by mane length or color, and 24‐hr mean T b was negatively correlated with mane length. These data contradict the suggestion that there exists a thermal cost to male lions in possessing a long dark mane, but do not preclude the possibility that males compensate for a mane with increased heat loss. The increased insulation caused by a mane does not necessarily have to impair heat loss by males, which in hot environments is primarily through respiratory evaporative cooling, nor does in necessarily lead to increased heat gain, as lions are nocturnal and seek shade during the day. The mane may even act as a heat shield by increasing insulation. However, dominant male lions frequent water points more than twice as often as females, raising the possibility that male lions are increasing water uptake to facilitate increased evaporative cooling. The question of whether male lions with manes compensate for a thermal cost to the mane remains unresolved, but male lions with access to water do not have higher T b than females or males with smaller manes.
Highlights
The most striking feature of the male African lion (Panthera leo) is its mane
To determine whether there may be a thermal cost to male lions in possessing a mane, we investigated the thermal biology of the lion by measuring Tb continuously for approximately 1 year in 18 free-living lions, the largest cohort of free-living large mammals for which Tb has been recorded over an extended period of time
Despite the hot conditions and the large, dark manes of some of the study animals, male lions had a 24-hr mean Tb that was about 0.2°C lower than that in females, and there was no difference between male and female 24-hr maximum Tb. Between males, both mane color and length did not influence 24-hr maximum Tb, and 24-hr mean Tb was negatively correlated with mane length
Summary
The most striking feature of the male African lion (Panthera leo) is its mane. A thick, dark mane is thought to have advantages for males that possess it, hypotheses vary as to which benefits are the most important. Charles Darwin and others proposed that the lion’s mane may provide a signal of fighting prowess to other males, helping to avoid unnecessary conflicts, and protecting the neck when conflicts. We compared lion Tb on days when the animals fed and did not feed, as it has been reported that males reduce food intake due to the interaction between the specific dynamic action of digestion and the thermal burden of the mane (West & Packer, 2002). We measured the frequency and duration of water intake in males and females, as increased evaporative heat loss would likely be associated with greater water intake
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