- Experts found the fossilised remains of a skull at Natodomeri in northwest Kenya
- They believe it was closer in size to cave lion fossils than a modern lion's skull
- It is thought to belong to an extinct species of lion that was substantially larger
- Its size may be thanks to giant plant eating mammals that once roamed Africa
A gigantic lion that stood as tall as a human has been uncovered for the first time by experts hunting for fossils in Kenya.
Scientists
say the beast is believed to have lived on a diet of giant plant-eating
mammals that roamed east Africa around 200,000 years ago.
Researchers
say it is most likely from an extinct species that was substantially
larger than any modern population or subspecies of lion.
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A gigantic lion that stood as tall
as a human has been uncovered for the first time by experts hunting for
fossils in Kenya. Skull remains (pictured) hint at a creature much
larger than any previously known African lion, living or fossil, which
has since gone extinct
To calculate its size, which was
far larger than modern lions, they looked at the remains of the
creature's teeth and skull. Male lions are, on average, around 4ft (1.2
metres) in length, but the newly uncovered species was closer to a
human's 5.6 ft (1.7 metres) average height
An
international team of researchers - including experts from the National
Museums of Kenya and the universities of Utah and Arkansas - found the
fossil at Natodomeri in northwest Kenya.
To calculate its size, which was far larger than modern lions, they looked at the remains of the creature's teeth and skull.
Male
lions are, on average, around 4ft (1.2 metres) in length, but the newly
uncovered species was closer to a human's 5.6 ft (1.7 metres) average
height.
Writing in a paper published on
the finds, its authors said: 'The image of the lion is pervasive in
human culture from its earliest preserved expression in Palaeolithic art
to more modern cultural references like Disney's the Lion King.
'In the scientific world lions are also a focus for attention.
'This
skull is the first indication of the existence of a population of giant
lions in the late Middle and Late Pleistocene of eastern
Africa, perhaps occasioned by the presence of greater megafaunal biomass
than today.
'The skull is remarkable
for its very great size, equivalent to the largest cave lions of
Pleistocene Eurasia and much larger than any previously known lion from
Africa, living or fossil.'
Modern lions first appeared in south and east Africa, before evolving into two groups.
Scientists say the beast is
believed to have lived on a diet of giant plant eating mammals that
roamed east Africa around 200,000 years ago. This image shows a Right
hand side view of an average lion skull
One now lives in eastern and southern Africa, while the other includes lions in west Africa and India.
Diminishing numbers of lions worldwide have become an escalating cause for concern.
However,
in recent weeks it was announced that India's endangered lion
population, which lives in one single forest, is fighting back from the
brink of extinction.
The endangered
Asiatic lion - whose numbers plummeted to just 180 individuals in the
1960s - has now increased to more than 600, it was reported on March 6.
The full findings of the study were published in the Journal of Paleontology.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT LIONS?
Modern lions, part of the cat family, first appeared in south and east Africa, before evolving into two groups.
One now lives in eastern and southern Africa, while the other includes lions in west Africa and India.
Like
many other animals, male lions are much larger and heavier than
females, with the average weight for a male around 416 lbs (189 kg),
while for a female it's 277 lbs (126 kg)
The heaviest male lion recorded was spotted in Kenya and was 600 lbs (272 kg).
Much smaller in comparison, the heaviest female, found in South Africa, was 335 lbs (152 kg).
That is heavier than the weight of more than 50 female domestic cats put together.
Lions
have three types of teeth: Incisors, used for gripping and tearing
meat; Canines used to rip skin and tear away meat; Carnassial teeth act
like a pair of scissors to cut meat.
Single lion looking regal standing proudly on a small hill
Lions can open their jaws to up to 11 inches (28 cm) wide, giving them one of the animal kingdom’s biggest bites.
A lion’s paws are similar to a pet cat’s, with five toes on the front paws and four on the back.
Lions
have retractable claws, which can grow up to 1.5 inches (38 mm) in
length. A fifth toe on the front paw has what is called a deathclaw,
which acts like a thumb for holding down prey when eating.
Lion cubs are born with a greyish woolly coat, with dark spots covering most of the back, legs and face which act as camouflage.
At around 12 to 14 months old, male cubs begin to grow longer hair around their chests and necks.
This is the beginning of their mane, which will not have grown properly until they reach the age of two.
Lion cubs are born blind and don’t begin to open their eyes until around three to four days old.
Their eyes are a blue-grey colour at first and begin to change to an orangey brown by the age of two to three months.
Lions have scent glands around their chin, lips, cheeks, whiskers, tail and in-between their toes.
These glands produce an oily substance to keep their fur healthy and waterproof.
If
you ever see a picture of a lion curling up its top lip and pulling a
funny face, the chances are it’s using something called its
This is a small area in the roof of the mouth that allows a lion to ‘taste’ smells in the air.
By
showing their teeth and sticking out their tongues, lions are able to
catch hold of a smell to work out if it’s coming from something worth
eating.
Lions also have good sense of
hearing, and can turn their ears in different directions to listen to
sounds all around them.They are able to hear their prey from a mile (1.6
km) way.
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