Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Family: Felidae

Genus: Panthera

Species: P. leo

Specimen Description

Ligaments and tendons are part of the musculoskeletal system, with ligaments attaching bones to bones and tendons muscles to bones. Ligaments and tendons are made of dense layered collagen fibers, called fibrous connective tissue. Ligaments serve as connectors, linking the ends of bones together at a joint. The joints allow for the performance of simple and complex motions throughout the body as well the toe. Tendons attach muscles to bones. Tendons aid in the movement of bones by transmitting force from the muscle to the bone. The lions have collagenous tissues that are extreamely sturdy, design to take excessive force, allowing them to sprint after the prey without causing serious injuries. The muscular structure of a lion’s toe allows it to move through grass with little sound. All of these anatomical features allow the female to identify her prey, successfully hide and move without being noticed.

About the Animal

For all of their roaring, growling, and ferociousness, lions are family animals and truly social in their own communities. Lions are also the only cats that live in large, social groups called “prides.” A pride can have 3 to 30 lions and is made up of lionesses (mothers, sisters, and cousins), and their cubs, along with a few unrelated adult males. Lions and lionesses play different roles in the life of the pride. The lionesses work together to hunt and help rear the cubs. Being smaller and lighter than males, lionesses are more agile and faster. Males patrol, mark, and guard the pride’s territory. Males also guard the cubs while the lionesses are hunting. When a new male tries to join a pride, he has to fight the males already there. The new male is either driven off or succeeds in pushing out the existing males.

Reference:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/217679-differences-between-ligaments-tendons/

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/lion/#ww-wild-cats-lion.jpg

http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/lion