Way back in 1986, after allowing a friend that I assisted to shoot a wrong lion - in the sense of other current threads wrong, in that it should not have been shot - I vowed to never hunt lion again. So this is not for me, it's just curiosity fired by the other current lion threads.

Roland Ward classifies lion basically on skull length. The only two animals that I know that continues to grow, even in old age, are elephant and hyrax or dassie. Now, I simply do not know if lion also perhaps exhibit this strange phenomenon of continued skeletal growth right into very old age? If not so, at what approximate age does a lion reach it’s maximum skull length? If lion does continue to grow in old age, and a particular 6 year old lion's skull is 24" exactly, what is his skull length likely to be at 8 years and 10 years?

Another trophy quality versus age question is: At what approximate age is a wild lion’s mane at it’s best?

Another trophy measurement question is motivated by the generally observed that men seem to “shrink” as they grow really old – does lion total body length also shrink with old age?

I leave it to the AR experts to comment. I only wish to learn!

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

Andrew,

I am no expert but doubt the skull will develop much further than 24 - 25"

A wild lion has a fairly short life expectancy maybe 8 or 9 years at a pinch. Their mane does not deteriorate with age. Thus the older the better. Most Lions have a very healthy looking mane at 3-4. Obviously there is genetic variations and Lions in west and central Africa have often no mane.

Yes. Old Lions like men show visible signs of age. Sagging spine, pot belly, gray pallor to their skin and the facial scars of hardship. Not sure if they shrink and you need to ask an expert.

Andrew

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Andrew,
Their mane does not deteriorate with age. Thus the older the better.
Andrew

The handbook on aging Serengeti Lions stated, if I recall, that stress can deminish the mane even in older Lions. Not sure if that is true of the Zambian variety.

Jim

If mines mane had of deteroiated with age, he would not have had a mane!!
Black nose, a weighted not guessed 510 lbs and toofers said 6 plus.

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Andrew,
Their mane does not deteriorate with age. Thus the older the better.
Andrew

The handbook on aging Serengeti Lions stated, if I recall, that stress can deminish the mane even in older Lions. Not sure if that is true of the Zambian variety.

Jim

No Jim our Lions are fairly laid back.

Andrew.

quote:

No Jim our Lions are fairly laid back.

At around 4 yo, a lion's skull (and body)is "fully developed" and won't continue to grow. The "fissures" on the skull "calcify" with age so that the older a lion is, the more these fissures are "sealed" - very subtle differences once lions are 5+ but definetely visible differences between a <4 and >6 yo.

Generally, the mane continues to develop up until around 6 yo (some variations of course). Very old lions 12+ will start showing a deteriorating mane (scruffy and patchy). This can also be infleunced by disease, injury, lack of regular food (eg in drought conditions where prey is scarce).

The guys of the Niassa Carnivore Project (Keith Begg) do believe that the main does indeed go back with it getting shorter and dense with balding on top as what Bwannamich has noted.

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:
The guys of the Niassa Carnivore Project (Keith Begg) do believe that the main does indeed go back with it getting shorter and dense with balding on top as what Bwannamich has noted.

Will have to remember that one.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Andrew,
Their mane does not deteriorate with age. Thus the older the better.
Andrew

The handbook on aging Serengeti Lions stated, if I recall, that stress can deminish the mane even in older Lions. Not sure if that is true of the Zambian variety.

Jim

No Jim our Lions are fairly laid back.

Andrew.

Except when mad buggers like you are trying to put holes in them.