Online training
How to Age Lions
Male lions in the wild can live up to 15 years of age. As males age, five main physical traits change:
These traits can be used to classify lions into four age classes:
There can be variation between individual lions in how traits change with age. Here we'll review the general trends of how each trait changes with age.
The following information is based on scientific research about how traits change with age across Africa. This training focuses specifically on male lions but all traits except mane should also be relevant for aging females.
- 1-2 years - Mature cub: Dependent on mother and not yet reproducing
- 3-4 years - Sub-adult: Independent from mother and starting to reproduce
- 5-6 years - Prime adult: Reproducing
- ≥7 years - Older adults: Includes adults in their prime reproductive years as well as adults that are no longer reproducing
There can be variation between individual lions in how traits change with age. Here we'll review the general trends of how each trait changes with age.
The following information is based on scientific research about how traits change with age across Africa. This training focuses specifically on male lions but all traits except mane should also be relevant for aging females.
1. Mane
A male's mane grows from a spiky 'Mohawk' into a long coat covering a male's back, shoulders, head and chest.
Mane growth is the only trait that differs between geographic regions, based on climate. Here we show two sets of images to represent mane in different regions.
Mane growth is the only trait that differs between geographic regions, based on climate. Here we show two sets of images to represent mane in different regions.
Southern and High-Lying Africa
(e.g. Hwange in Zimbabwe, Serengeti in Tanzania)
In cooler climates, manes are longer, thicker and grow more quickly.
Click images to zoom in.
Click images to zoom in.
1-2 years
No hair or very short Mohawk on head, with bare patches between Mohawk and ears. No or very sparse mane around face, chest and neck.
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3-4 years
Long Mohawk on head with bare patches between Mohawk and ears. Short mane around face, chest and neck. No shoulder mane.
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5-6 years
No Mohawk; full, long mane with forehead and shoulders filled in.
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≥7 years
Full, long mane, frayed or frizzy hair; might be missing in some places.
Note: Other traits (jowl slackness, facial scarring, teeth wear) are more indicative of this age. |
West-Central and Eastern Low-Lying Africa
(e.g. Niassa in Mozambique, Selous in Tanzania)
In hot climates, manes are shorter, sparser and grow more slowly (1-2 years 'behind' cooler climate males). The variability in manes here can be used to classify lions into 3 broader age classes.
Click images to zoom in.
Click images to zoom in.
1-3 years
No hair or very short Mohawk on head, with bare patches between and behind ears. No or very sparse mane around face, chest and neck.
|
4-5 years
Long Mohawk on head with bare patches between Mohawk and ears and behind ears. May extend between shoulders.
|
≥6 years
Bare patch behind ears filled in. Longer mane with full ring around face. Long Mohawk may still be present. Older lions have sparser and shorter manes.
|
2. Nose Darkness
Lion noses develop dark freckles of pigment as they age.
Click images to zoom in.
Click images to zoom in.
1-2 years
Mostly pink
(~10% black) |
3-4 years
Slightly black
(~30% black) |
5-6 years
Mostly black
(~50% black) |
≥7 years
Nearly all black
(~80% black) |
3. Teeth Colour and Wear
Lion teeth become more yellow and worn with age.
Click images to zoom in.
Click images to zoom in.
1-2 years
White, sharp.
|
3-4 years
Light yellow,
sharp or lightly worn. |
5-6 years
Light yellow,
lightly or heavily worn. |
≥7 years
Dark yellow,
lightly or heavily worn. |
4. Facial Scarring
The faces of male lions become increasingly scarred as they age due to fighting.
Click images to zoom in.
Click images to zoom in.
1-2 years
No scarring.
|
3-4 years
No or light scarring.
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5-6 years
Light scarring.
|
≥7 years
Heavy scarring.
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5. Jowl Slackness
A lion's bottom back lip begins to hang low at ≥7 years.
Click images to zoom in.
Click images to zoom in.
1-2 years
No slack jowl.
|
3-4 years
No slack jowl.
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5-6 years
No slack jowl.
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≥7 years
Visible slack jowl in ~50% of males.
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Overview
Below is a summary of how key traits change with age, separated by region to show differences in mane.
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View Photo Galleries
Training your eye to see how traits change collectively with age will greatly improve your aging ability. Below are photos of lions over time, showing how their appearance changes in each age class. You can also view the photo gallery to scan through lions by age and region.
Click images to zoom in.
Click images to zoom in.
Lion 1
2.9 years
Short Mohawk and mane, mostly pink nose (10% black), no facial scarring.
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4.7 years
Longer Mohawk with small bare patches between Mohawk and ears, moderately long body mane, light facial scarring.
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5.8 years
Full mane, mostly black nose (60% black), light facial scarring.
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7.0 years
Full mane, nearly all black nose (80% black), heavy facial scarring, slack jowl.
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Lion 2
2.4 years
Short Mohawk, no black or shoulder mane, mostly pink nose (10% black), no facial scarring.
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4.0 years
Long Mohawk, long face and neck mane, no facial scarring.
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5.5 years
Full mane, minor facial scarring, minor slack jowl, mostly black nose (40%).
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7.0 years
Heavy facial scarring, full mane.
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Lion 3
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No photo available 1-2 years
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3.9 years
Long Mohawk, slightly black nose (30% black), no facial scarring.
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6.5 years
Full mane, mostly black nose (60% black), minor facial scarring.
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No photo available ≥7 years
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Lion 4
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No photo available 1-2 years
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4.7 years
Long Mohawk with bare patches between ears, short mane, slightly black nose (20% black), minor facial scarring.
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6.4 years
Full and long mane, minor facial scarring, minor slack jowl.
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No photo available ≥7 years
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For more training and practice:
Download the Training Packet
| aging_the_african_lion_2022.pdf |