Editing Lion (section)

===Hunting and diet===
{{multiple image| perrow=1 |image2=Lions taking down cape buffalo.jpg|caption2=Four lionesses catching a buffalo in the Serengeti |image1=Lion and eland.jpg |caption1=A skeletal mount of a lion attacking a [[common eland]], on display at [[The Museum of Osteology]]
|image3=Lions and a Zebra b.jpg |caption3=Lions feeding on a zebra}}

The lion is a [[Generalist and specialist species|generalist]] [[hypercarnivore]] and is considered to be both an apex and keystone predator due to its wide prey spectrum.<ref>[[#Schaller|Schaller]], p. 208.</ref><ref name=Frank1998>{{cite book |last=Frank| first=L. G. |year=1998 |title=Living with lions: carnivore conservation and livestock in Laikipia District, Kenya |location=Mpala Research Centre, Nanyuki |publisher=US Agency for International Development, Conservation of Biodiverse Resource Areas Project, 623-0247-C-00-3002-00}}</ref> Its prey consists mainly of medium-sized to large [[ungulate]]s, particularly [[blue wildebeest]], [[plains zebra]], [[African buffalo]], [[gemsbok]] and [[giraffe]]. It also frequently takes [[common warthog]] despite it being much smaller.<ref name=Hayward2005>{{Cite journal |last1=Hayward |first1=M. W. |last2=Kerley |first2=G. I. H.  |year=2005 |title=Prey preferences of the lion (''Panthera leo'') |journal=Journal of Zoology |volume=267 |issue=3 |pages=309–322 |doi=10.1017/S0952836905007508 |citeseerx=10.1.1.611.8271 |url=http://www.zbs.bialowieza.pl/g2/pdf/1595.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627132429/http://www.zbs.bialowieza.pl/g2/pdf/1595.pdf |archive-date=27 June 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> In India, [[chital]] and [[sambar deer]] are the most common wild prey,<ref name=Haas2005/><ref name=Hayward2005/><ref name=Mukherjee>{{cite journal |last1=Mukherjee |first1=S. |last2=Goyal |first2=S. P. |last3=Chellam| first3=R.  |year=1994 |title=Refined techniques for the analysis of Asiatic lion ''Panthera leo persica'' scats |journal=Acta Theriologica |volume=39 |issue=4 |pages=425–430 |doi=10.4098/AT.arch.94-50 |doi-access=free}}</ref> while livestock contributes significantly to lion kills outside protected areas.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Meena, V.  |author2=Jhala, Y. V. |author3=Chellam, R. |author4=Pathak, B. |year=2011 |title=Implications of diet composition of Asiatic lions for their conservation |journal=Journal of Zoology |volume=284 |issue=1 |pages=60–67 |doi=10.1111/j.1469-7998.2010.00780.x |doi-access=free}}</ref> It usually avoids adult [[elephant]]s, [[rhinoceros]] and [[hippopotamus]] and small prey like [[dik-dik]], [[hyrax]]es, [[hare]]s and [[monkey]]s, and seldom consumes other predators; unusual prey include small reptiles and [[Old World porcupine|porcupine]]s.<ref>[[#Schaller|Schaller]], pp. 220–221.</ref>

Young lions first display stalking behaviour at around three months of age, although they do not participate in hunting until they are almost a year old and begin to hunt effectively when nearing the age of two.<ref name=Schaller153>[[#Schaller|Schaller]], p. 153.</ref> Single lions are capable of bringing down zebra and wildebeest, while larger prey like buffalo and giraffe are riskier.<ref name=Estes/> In [[Chobe National Park]], large prides have been observed hunting [[African bush elephant]]s up to around 15 years old in exceptional cases, with the victims being calves, juveniles, and even subadults.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Joubert |first1=D. |year=2006 |title=Hunting behaviour of lions (''Panthera leo'') on elephants (''Loxodonta africana'') in the Chobe National Park, Botswana |journal=African Journal of Ecology |volume=44 |issue=2 |pages=279–281 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-2028.2006.00626.x|bibcode=2006AfJEc..44..279J}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Power |first1=R. J. |last2=Compion |first2=R. X. S.  |title=Lion predation on elephants in the Savuti, Chobe National Park, Botswana |journal=African Zoology |volume=44 |issue=1 |pages=36–44 |doi=10.3377/004.044.0104 |year=2009 |s2cid=86371484 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232693088 |access-date=20 April 2018 |archive-date=31 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831035431/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232693088 |url-status=live}}</ref> In typical group hunts, each lioness has a favoured position in the group, either stalking prey on the "wing", then attacking, or moving a smaller distance in the centre of the group and capturing prey fleeing from other lionesses. Males attached to prides do not usually participate in group hunting.<ref name=hunt>{{Cite journal |last=Stander |first=P. E. |title=Cooperative hunting in lions: the role of the individual |journal=Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology |volume=29 |issue=6 |pages=445–454 |year=1992 |doi=10.1007/BF00170175 |bibcode=1992BEcoS..29..445S |s2cid=2588727 |url=http://lchc.ucsd.edu/MCA/Mail/xmcamail.2011_09.dir/pdfeL5GzNL2FL.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518095055/http://lchc.ucsd.edu/MCA/Mail/xmcamail.2011_09.dir/pdfeL5GzNL2FL.pdf |archive-date=18 May 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Some evidence suggests, however, that males are just as successful as females; they are typically solo hunters who ambush prey in small bushland.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Loarie, S. R. |last2=Tambling, C. J. |last3=Asner, G. P.  |year=2013 |title=Lion hunting behaviour and vegetation structure in an African savanna |journal=Animal Behaviour |volume=85 |issue=5 |pages=899–906 |doi=10.1016/j.anbehav.2013.01.018 |hdl=2263/41825 |hdl-access=free |s2cid=53185309 |url=https://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/2263/41825/1/Loarie_Lion_2013.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816101650/http://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/2263/41825/1/Loarie_Lion_2013.pdf |archive-date=16 August 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> They may join in the hunting of large, slower-moving prey like buffalo; and even hunt them on their own. Moderately-sized hunting groups generally have higher success rates than lone females and larger groups.<ref>[[#Packer|Packer]], p. 150, 153, 164–165.</ref>

Lions are not particularly known for their stamina. For instance, a lioness's heart comprises only 0.57% of her body weight and a male's is about 0.45% of his body weight, whereas a hyena's heart comprises almost 1% of its body weight.<ref>[[#Schaller|Schaller]], p. 248.</ref> Thus, lions run quickly only in short bursts at about {{cvt|48-59|km/h}} and need to be close to their prey before starting the attack.<ref name=Schaller2478>[[#Schaller|Schaller]], pp. 233, 247–248</ref> They take advantage of factors that reduce visibility; many kills take place near some form of cover or at night.<ref name=Schaller237>[[#Schaller|Schaller]], p. 237.</ref> One study in 2018 recorded a lion running at a top speed of {{cvt|74.1|km/h}}.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Wilson |first1=A. M. |last2=Hubel |first2=T. Y. |last3=Wilshin |first3=S. D. |last4=Lowe |first4=J. C. |last5=Lorenc |first5=M. |last6=Dewhirst |first6=O. P. |last7=Bartlam-Brooks |first7=H. L. |last8=Diack |first8=R.  |last9=Bennitt |first9=E. |last10=Golabek |first10=K. A. |last11=Woledge |first11=R. C. |year=2018 |title=Biomechanics of predator–prey arms race in lion, zebra, cheetah and impala |url=https://rvc-repository.worktribe.com/preview/1388812/11143.pdf |url-status=live |journal=Nature |volume=554 |issue=7691 |pages=183–188 |bibcode=2018Natur.554..183W |doi=10.1038/nature25479 |pmid=29364874 |s2cid=4405091 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305065622/https://researchonline.rvc.ac.uk/id/eprint/11143/1/11143.pdf |archive-date=5 March 2020}}</ref> The lion accelerates at the start of the chase by a rate of {{cvt|9.5|m/s|kph mph}} per second, whereas zebras, wildebeest and [[Thomson's gazelle]] accelerate by a rate of {{cvt|5|m/s|kph mph}} per second, {{cvt|5.6|m/s|kph mph}} per second, and {{cvt|4.5|m/s|kph mph}} per second respectively; acceleration appears to be more important than steady displacement speed in lion hunts.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Alexander |first=R. McNeill |title=Mammals as Predators: The Proceedings of a Symposium Held by The Zoological Society of London and Mammal Society: London, 22nd and 23rd November 1991 |date=1993 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-854067-0 |editor1=Dunstone, N. |place=Oxford |pages=1–13 |chapter=Legs and locomotion of carnivora |doi=10.1093/oso/9780198540670.003.0001 |editor2=Gorman, M. L. |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/mammalsaspredato0000unse/mode/1up}}</ref> The lion's attack is short and powerful; it attempts to catch prey with a fast rush and final leap, usually pulls it down by the rump, and kills with a clamping bite to the [[Throat clamp|throat]] or [[Muzzle clamp|muzzle]]. It can hold the prey's throat for up to 13 minutes, until the prey stops moving.<ref>[[#Schaller|Schaller]], p. 244, 263–267.</ref> It has a [[Bite force quotient|bite force]] from 1593.8 to 1768 [[Newton (unit)|Newtons]] at the canine tip and up 4167.6 Newtons at the [[carnassial]] notch.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Thomason |first=J. J. |date=1991 |title=Cranial strength in relation to estimated biting forces in some mammals |journal=Canadian Journal of Zoology |volume=69 |issue=9 |pages=2326–2333 |doi=10.1139/z91-327|bibcode=1991CaJZ...69.2326T}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Wroe |first1=S. |last2=McHenry |first2=C. |last3=Thomason |first3=J. J. |date=2005 |title=Bite club: comparative bite force in big biting mammals and the prediction of predatory behaviour in fossil taxa |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |volume=272 |issue=1563 |pages=619–625 |doi=10.1098/rspb.2004.2986 |pmc=1564077 |pmid=15817436}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Van der Meijden |first1=A. |last2=González-Gómez |first2=J. C. |last3=Pulido-Osorio |first3=M. D. |last4=Herrel |first4=A. |date=2023 |title=Measurement of voluntary bite forces in large carnivores using a semi-automated reward-driven system |journal=Journal of Experimental Biology |volume=226 |issue=7 |doi=10.1242/jeb.245255 |page=jeb245255 |pmid=36939369 |bibcode=2023JExpB.226B5255V}}</ref> 
[[File:Male Lion and Cub Chitwa South Africa Luca Galuzzi 2004.JPG |thumb|Male lion and cub with mostly eaten buffalo carcass in [[Sabi Sand Game Reserve]]]]
Lions typically consume prey at the location of the hunt but sometimes drag large prey into cover.<ref name=Schaller2706/> They tend to squabble over kills, particularly the males. Cubs suffer most when food is scarce but otherwise all pride members eat their fill, including old and crippled lions, which can live on leftovers.<ref name=Estes/> Large kills are shared more widely among pride members.<ref name=Schaller133>[[#Schaller|Schaller]], p. 133.</ref> An adult lioness requires an average of about {{cvt|5|kg}} of meat per day while males require about {{cvt|7|kg}}.<ref>[[#Schaller|Schaller]], p. 276.</ref> Lions gorge themselves and eat up to {{cvt|30|kg}} in one session.<ref name=simba>{{Cite book |last=Guggisberg |first=C. A. W. |title=Simba: the life of the lion. |year=1961 |publisher=Howard Timmins |location=Cape Town}}</ref> If it is unable to consume all of the kill, it rests for a few hours before continuing to eat. On hot days, the pride retreats to shade with one or two males standing guard.<ref name=Schaller2706>[[#Schaller|Schaller]], pp. 270–76.</ref> Lions defend their kills from scavengers such as vultures and hyenas.<ref name=Estes/>

Lions scavenge on [[carrion]] when the opportunity arises, scavenging animals dead from natural causes such as disease or those that were killed by other predators. Scavenging lions keep a constant lookout for circling vultures, which indicate the death or distress of an animal.<ref name=Schaller213>[[#Schaller|Schaller]], p. 213–216.</ref> Most carrion on which both hyenas and lions feed upon are killed by hyenas rather than lions.<ref name=nowak/> Carrion is thought to provide a large part of lion diet.<ref name=AWF>{{cite web |title=Behavior and Diet |work=African Wildlife Foundation website |publisher=African Wildlife Foundation |year=1996 |url=http://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/lion |access-date=6 June 2014 |archive-date=19 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719112213/https://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/lion |url-status=live}}</ref>