Schoen: Mating Behavior

 African Lion

Panthera leo

Location: 42^o03’54.51”N, 71^o35’04.25”W

The male usually initiates the mating ritual with a “mating snarl” which is intended to excite the female. If the female does not respond, the male lion may lick her neck, back, or shoulders until she complies. Females will “present themselves” by lowering their forebody and arching their back and hindlegs. African Lions are usually polygynandrous, meaning typically each male mates with multiple females and each female mates with multiple males.