@
0
7
Overview
ED_COMM.TXT
3
2
Facial Expressions
ED_COMM.TXT
4
6
Posturing
ED_COMM.TXT
5
4
Scent Marking
ED_COMM.TXT
6
3
Senses
ED_COMM.TXT
7
6
Tail Positions
ED_COMM.TXT
8
3
Vocalization
ED_COMM.TXT
9
4


@
1
15
Alert lion
105048P.PCX
0
0
Bared-teeth lion
4005_18P.PCX
0
0
Crouched down
4108_17P.PCX
0
0
Group of lions
105081P.PCX
0
0
Leopard in the tree
134046P.PCX
0
0
Lion cub
4035_16P.PCX
0
0
Lion with head low
4010_30P.PCX
0
0
Male by carcass
4061_04P.PCX
0
0
Open-mouthed lion
105077P.PCX
0
0
Roaring lion
ROARP.PCX
0
0
Rubbing heads
130091P.PCX
0
0
Snarling lioness
4061_27P.PCX
0
0
Submissive posture
4000_01P.PCX
0
0
Yawning lion
105014P.PCX
0
0
Zebra running
130039P.PCX
0
0



@
2
5
The grimace
4014_11P.FLC
100
0
Grooming
4000_23P.FLC
100
0
Head rubbing
4008_09P.FLC
100
0
Roaring softly
4170_39P.FLC
100
0
Rubbing and spraying
4016_40P.FLC
100
0



@
3

#
16
Lions have an extremely well-
developed communication system 
that employs nearly all of their 
body parts -- from the black 
markings on the backs of their 
ears, to the black tassel at the
tip of their tails.

They communicate through a 
wide variety of facial expres-
sions, postures, tail positions, 
and vocalizations, as well as an 
array of sensory messages 
conveyed through smell, touch, 
and licking.


#
12
Lions communicate constantly, 
and, even while at rest, they 
are "informing" one another that 
everything is O.K. 

A knowledge of how, and why, a 
lion communicates is essential 
for understanding how the lion's 
society as a whole functions and
interacts.



@
4

#
20
Facial expressions are many and 
varied among the lion population.

Humans can often distinguish a 
lion's expression and predict 
whether a friendly or hostile 
action is about to take place.

Facial expressions among lions 
can be used to convey both 
benign and aggressive behavior.

Cubs often use a relaxed open-
mouth expression when playing,
and lionesses use it when 
sitting placidly by a kill. No 
teeth show, but it is thought 
that this expression conveys the
possibility of gentle biting.



#
18
The alert face is used when
watching or stalking prey, or 
when looking at an item or 
animal of particular interest.

Tension is observable in the 
face. Ears are cocked and eyes 
are open somewhat widely, 
staring in a fixed direction.

In the classic yawning face 
expression, the lion raises its
head languidly, and opens its 
mouth widely, exposing all of its
teeth. Usually, the lion's eyes 
are closed and the tongue comes 
out slightly past the lips.



#
19
The grimacing face usually occurs 
after sniffing something that 
emits a powerful odor.  

The lion raises its muzzle and 
wrinkles its nose. The mouth 
opens and the teeth are exposed.
Grimacing usually occurs after 
sniffing urine, scent marks, 
estrous lionesses, and dead 
animals.

The unwavering look conveys a
low form of aggression. Lions 
dislike being stared at, and 
similarly, themselves do not 
focus for long periods of time 
on another animal.


#
17
The lion's most famous facial 
expression is that which accom-
panies the roar. Roars can have 
different intensities and can 
reflect both benign and aggres-
sive behavior. The lion's muzzle 
raises, the ears and eyes relax, 
and the sound is released through
a partially-open mouth.

The lion uses a tense open-mouth 
face to keep other lions away, as 
when a kill is under threat of
being taken away. Ears are twist-
ed so that the black markings on 
the back face forward.



#
14
This face indicates the highest
form of aggression, and attack 
generally follows if the other 
animal does not back away.

Finally, a bared-teeth face is a 
defensive pose, used as a 
warning, and it is common in all 
combative encounters, whether 
benign, as in shoving away a cub, 
or hostile, as in giving notice 
to an approaching enemy not to 
come any closer.



#
7
It is interesting to note that
when a lion attacks a human, it 
is with bared teeth, indicating 
a defensive reaction, born of 
fear, not an action purely aggres-
sive in nature.



@
5

#
12
The body movements of the lion
are very expressive. Lions may
take on a submissive pose, as
when a female rolls over on her
back, or a male touches his face
to the ground, or a male may use
a strutting pose to show interest
in a female.

A lion also uses the position of
its head to effectively commun-
icate with other lions.





#
18
The head-low position is norm-
ally used to discourage others
from approaching.

In this position, the lion holds
its neck and head downward, and
looks directly at the other
animal, making growling or
coughing noises.

This position implies a threat
of high intensity, implying that
an attack may follow.

The head-twist occurs most often
during aggressive encounters as
one lion faces another with teeth
bared.





#
20
Sometimes, under less aggressive
circumstances, a lion simply turns
its head and "miaows" at the ap-
proach of another.

The head-twist may be used to
deflect or terminate fights, and
it is also used by the lioness
to signal the end of the mating
process.

The stalking walk is used when
a lion spots and approaches prey,
and is also used by cubs when
sneaking up on their siblings.

The lion may use a crouching
walk, legs slightly bent, nose
pressed forward, neck lowered,
halting at times to glance around.



#
7
Finally, chin low to the ground
and legs flexed beneath the body,
the lion crouches in preparation
for bringing down the prey. The
stalking walk and crouch is also
used as avoidance behavior when
near larger animals or man.



@
6

#
20
Lions communicate through a
variety of scent-markings.

Tracks, urine, spraying, and head-
rubbing are all used by lions to
mark their path.

Tracks combine both visual and 
olfactory markings, since body 
scent as well as visual impres-
sions linger from the lion's paws.

Additionally, as a lion travels 
through the tall grasses and 
leaves, he may rub his face on the 
foliage as he goes along, often 
burying his face in it, as if 
experiencing a pleasurable sen-
sation. Occasionally, he sprays 
as well.



#
19
For males, communicating by 
spraying occurs under many dif-
ferent circumstances. For exam-
ple, when a lion passes the scent 
left by another, the second lion 
may also leave his "mark." It may 
be used as a means to mark their 
territory, or to convey their 
presence.

Both males and females mark the 
vicinity of a kill, most often 
after they have eaten their fill 
and are ready to leave.

Sometimes marking takes place 
after an encounter with another 
predator.



#
20
A final way in which scent is 
communicated is through head-
rubbing. Lions rub heads with 
other pride members which may 
help them to recognize the scent 
of another pride member when 
they encounter it on the trail.

In this way, scents left by prior
lions are picked up, while his
own scent, from either the rub-
bing or the spraying, is also
transmitted.

Scent markings are a valuable
communication tool for the lion.
They keep all lions informed of
just who is where in the lion's
world.



@
7

#
17
Lions are extremely tactile
creatures.

Head and cheek-rubbing are com-
mon daily occurrences, as is
social licking, mutual grooming,
play, and suckling among cubs.

On the more aggressive side,
lions "touch" each other while
fighting, or while crowded
around a kill, but the ensuing
swatting, shoving, and biting
bear little resemblance to the
above-noted, more affectionate
examples.



#
15
Head-rubbing is definitely a
sought-after commodity. Very
rarely is a lion rebuffed in
its bid to rub heads or cheeks
with another.

Head-rubbing is also a good way
to exchange scents of individual
animals.

Closely associated with head-
rubbing is licking, which is both
a social and a practical form of
sensory communication.



#
19
As part of grooming, it helps to
keep the lions clean after eating;
after a rainfall, it provides
water to drink and also helps to
smooth the coat; if a lion is
injured, licking the wound can
aid in the healing process.

And, lions clearly lick for the
sheer pleasure of it. During rest
periods, lionesses are frequently
observed mutually licking heads,
necks, shoulders, and backs -- eyes
closed and bodies languidly posi-
tioning for more.

As with head-rubbing, any mem-
ber may approach another for
licking.


#
17
Sight is as important to the
lion as the sense of touch. Lions
can see small, moving objects in
the distance with facility.

Vultures in the sky descending
on fallen prey may send the lion
off on a trot to discover the
source.

However, interestingly enough,
lions often overlook, or seeming-
ly "see right through," prey that
has been stashed in the trees by
leopards -- perhaps nature's way
of giving one of the lion's com-
petitors a meal or two.



#
15
A lion can pick up the sounds of
other animals far more quickly
than man, and the sound of a
distant bleating of an animal
in distress...or, hooves of herds
on the move, may cause the lion
to assume an "alert" posture, in
readiness for action.

The lion's ears also pick up the
"distant roars" or full roars of
fellow lions. These receive an
immediate reply, and may be used
as a signaling device to identify
location or need of assistance.




#
15
The entire daily life of a lion
is affected by its sense of
smell. It is used for identifica-
tion purposes when two lions
meet; it is used by males to
track females in estrus; and
scent-markings "on the road" are
sniffed to ascertain who has pas-
sed this way before.

All in all, the use of the senses
in the lion's communication reper-
toire is prodigious, and an essen-
tial part of practically all
aspects of its daily life.





@
8


#
18
The lion's tail is an important
communication tool.

Whether standing or walking, the
lion's tail is usually hanging
limply, with the tip slightly
upturned.

A lioness with cubs, or a lioness 
with a courting male in atten-
dance, sometimes loops her tail 
up to her rump, or higher, and 
periodically "flicks" it.

During stalking of prey, a crouch-
ed lion may occasionally "flick" 
its tail tip, or its ears.



#
14
During social contacts, such as 
head-rubbing and sniffing, lions 
raise their tail, and either tilt 
it toward the other lion, or 
circle and extend it over their 
backs, lending a rather compan-
ionable aspect to the activities.

On the other hand, lions in com-
bat, or engaged in chasing prey, 
hold their tails straight, but 
neither completely horizontal or 
vertical.
	


#
11
In aggressive situations, where 
there is attacking or the threat 
of attack, lions may vigorously 
lash their tails up and down.

After a full day of activity, most 
lions can be seen taking a nice 
long nap, under a shady tree, 
with their tails stretched out 
behind them.




@
9


#
16
Lions make use of vocalizations 
to communicate a number of dif-
ferent emotions.

Growling is used to tell other 
lions to "Keep Away."

The growl is used with rowdy 
cubs, in disputes over a piece 
of meat, or by a female to a 
male suitor.

A snarl indicates a threat, while 
at the same time being on the 
defensive.



#
18
Hissing occurs most often as a 
response to a strange sight or 
sound.

For example, a lion can hiss at 
his own reflection in a pond, or 
at vehicles that come too close.

Cubs miaow as they approach an 
adult, when they want to suckle, 
or when they compete with other 
cubs for milk.

The miaow of an adult is a bit 
more "snarly," and is sometimes 
accompanied by a bared-teeth 
facial expression.



#
20
Lions typically miaow when they 
are lost, when they are unsure 
of themselves, or when they are 
prevented from doing something 
they want to do.

One step up from the miaow is 
the roar. The lion possesses at 
least three different types of 
roars.

A soft roar (or, grunting) begins 
at a low intensity and consists 
of one or more hollow-sounding 
grunts...which, if the animal 
receives no response, can go into 
a suppressed roar...which is 
longer in duration and stronger 
in intensity.



#
20
Adults sometimes roar softly 
while walking alone. It may 
indicate that they are searching 
for other group members, since 
other lions in the vicinity often 
respond.

As roaring increases, more atten-
tion is drawn to the lion.

At full roar, it is possible that 
the sound can be heard as far 
away as 5 miles (8 kilometers). 
Roaring by one lion can cause all 
the lions in the group to follow 
suit. Lions may also sound short 
roars when chasing prey. In this 
case, at least, its roar is defi-
nitely not worse than its bite!

