Panthera leo, adult female, photo © JRAWLS
Effeminate make-up in adolescent male lion
Panthera leo, adolescent male, photo © shankar s
Panthera leo, adolescent male, photo in the Public Domain
Unlike the mature male, the adult female lion has a neck-flag consisting of pale fur contrasting with the dark back-of-ear. The adolescent male shows sexual mimicry of this feature while his mane grows. This reduces masculine intolerance from his father, delaying his eviction from his maternal group until he is capable of independence.
Robin and the Honey Badger, 14 March 2016
Photographs:
Panthera leo, adult female