Lionesses confuse the Sweni Pride Male Lions

Описание: Lions are known for their fascinating mating rituals. During the mating season of Lions, various interactions occur between male and female Lions. One of the most important ways male Lions detect a Lioness’s readiness to mate is through scent. A Lioness in estrus releases specific pheromones in her urine and from her body. On this morning two of the Sweni Pride males realized that one Lioness was in estrus. The one male Lion clearly identified the Lioness and started exhibiting the typical male Llion courtship behaviour: he followed the Lioness closely and responded with the Flehmen response where he curled back his lips to investigate scent cues from her.
The second male was aware that there is a mating opportunity and he started following a female but soon realized he had identified the wrong female. The confusion and urgency displayed by the second male Lion emphasize the competitive nature of mating among male Lions. In a pride, males often compete for mating opportunities, and timing is crucial. The first male’s successful identification of the receptive female and his prompt action to secure the mating opportunity underscore the importance of quick and decisive behaviour: by leaving with the Lioness, the first male effectively reduced competition and increased his chances of passing on his genes. It is possible that the second male Lion also could eventually have mated with the Lioness. A Lioness often mates with more than one male within a pride since mating with multiple males increases genetic diversity among her cubs, this would cause uncertainty about the paternity of her cubs which could reduce the likelihood of infanticide, as males are less likely to kill cubs if they think they might be their own and this would also reduce competition and aggression among the male Lions.

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