Happy Roaring Lion

About this drawing

A roaring lion can be heard from miles away, and on a still night that sound may travel as far as five miles across the savanna. Few land animals come close to that kind of volume. Yet a roar isn't just an angry outburst. It is the most important long-distance message a lion can send.

That power comes from anatomy. Lions belong to a small group of big cats, along with tigers, leopards and jaguars, that are built to roar. Their voice box can vibrate with great force, and a chain of bones in the throat is more flexible than the one found in smaller cats like house cats. Push air through all that and you get a deep rumble that people nearby can feel in their chests.

Mostly, lions roar to announce themselves. A roar tells neighboring lions that a territory is taken and that trespassers aren't welcome. It also keeps a scattered group connected. Pride members often split up to rest or hunt, and calling out helps them find each other without ever being in sight.

Males and females both roar, though the male voice runs deeper. Evenings, nights and the hours before sunrise are the busiest times, and several lions will often join in together. A typical round opens with a few soft moans, builds to full-throated roars and fades out in a string of short grunts.

• lion
• roar
• big cats
• animal portrait
• wild animals