Hunter suspects this explanation applies to the animals studied by Gilfillan and his colleagues. “The behavioural changes suggest this is likely the case.” “While some of the maned lionesses were observed mating, none of them became pregnant, suggesting they are infertile, a known consequence of high levels of androgens such as testosterone in females,” she says.
The idea that testosterone is implicated in the Botswana lionesses is also backed by observations of their reproductive success, says Kathleen Alexander at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. Tests revealed high levels of testosterone due to a problem in her ovaries, and once they were removed she reverted to a typical lioness. In 2011, a captive lioness called Emma at the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa developed a mane. Castrated males, for example, lose their ability to produce testosterone and promptly lose their mane, too. In lions, testosterone directly affects the development of manes. “SaF05, however, was much more male-like in her behaviour, regularly scent-marking and roaring.”Ī likely explanation is an increased level of testosterone as these lionesses mature, says Luke Hunter, president and chief conservation officer at the global wild cat conservation organisation Panthera. “Although females do roar and scent-mark like males, they usually do so less frequently,” he says.
“While SaF05 is mostly female in her behaviour – staying with the pride, mating males – she also has some male behaviours, such as increased scent-marking and roaring, as well as mounting other females,” says Gilfillan.
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