The Atlas Lion
The Atlas lion (Panthera Léo Léo) also called Barbary lion is a species which populated the Atlas Mountains, today unfortunately extinct in the wild. this species once reigned over all of North Africa. The last wild specimen was probably killed in 1943 in Oujda in Morocco, however, villagers and shepherds claim to have seen Atlas lions in the region of Khenchla, in Algeria, until the mid-fifties.
Mane much more voluminous than that of its African cousins, very dark or even black extending to the middle of the belly. Unlike other subspecies, the Atlas lion does not live in groups (two to three adult members). Living mainly in the mountains of the Tell Atlas massif and the Moroccan Atlas, it is more robust and much more massive than the other subspecies.
Features:
- Gray coat
- Females and young males with long hair around (neck/throat) on the front legs and along the belly
- Male with an enormous mane covering not only the head, neck and shoulders, but also extending to the back of the shoulders and onto the stomach
- Color of the mane varies between the different parts of the body but increasingly dark towards the rear parts.
- Well developed tufted tail.
- Creation of a straight line between the tip of the nose and the back of the head with a more pointed crown.
- Narrow muzzle, short legs, deep chest.
- Clear iris.
- It is the largest lion with a weight varying between 230 to 270 kg for males and 140 to 160 kg for females.
Mane much more voluminous than that of its African cousins, very dark or even black extending to the middle of the belly. Unlike other subspecies, the Atlas lion does not live in groups (two to three adult members). Living mainly in the mountains of the Tell Atlas massif and the Moroccan Atlas, it is more robust and much more massive than the other subspecies.
Features:
- Gray coat
- Females and young males with long hair around (neck/throat) on the front legs and along the belly
- Male with an enormous mane covering not only the head, neck and shoulders, but also extending to the back of the shoulders and onto the stomach
- Color of the mane varies between the different parts of the body but increasingly dark towards the rear parts.
- Well developed tufted tail.
- Creation of a straight line between the tip of the nose and the back of the head with a more pointed crown.
- Narrow muzzle, short legs, deep chest.
- Clear iris.
- It is the largest lion with a weight varying between 230 to 270 kg for males and 140 to 160 kg for females.