Lions like long and brown males

2002/10/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Zoologia

A study published by zoologists from the University of Minnesota (USA) in the journal Science has allowed to know the importance of the color and the length of the coat of the male lion when it comes to attracting the female.

For this purpose, the researchers have studied for five years the behavior of the lions of the Serengético de Tanzania and have carried out tests with specially prepared mannequins and wigs. Thus they have seen that males with long and dark hairs are the most attractive for the lions.

In addition, blood tests explained that a dark and long coat is related to a high level of testosterone. Testosterone also makes male lions more aggressive, so they can better protect the female and the offspring. But that has something to pay for: through an infrared camera, they have seen that the testicles were warmer, producing less sperm.