BODY SIZE AND MASS OF NGORONGORO CRATER LIONS

[GuateGojira]

In fact, it depends of the sources, not all states a figure of 180 kg. Packer (2012) states a figure of 350 lb (c.159 kg) like a "fairly average for a Serengeti male" and Schaller (1972) states an average of 120 kg for females and 170 kg for males. The two males recorded by Dr Packer in the new document of 2013 are of 155.5 kg and 169 kg respectively, and those for a sample that contains males of over 200 cm in head-body (West & Packer, in Kingdom et al., 2013). These are first hand sources, not only quoting other ones.

I think that between 155 - 180 kg is the average for the entire north area of Tanzania, fluctiating between prey density and food availability.

The figure of 155 kg can't be dismissed just because is possible that there are "young" animals included, because we don't know that. In fact, we most know the prey density in that area and the time when those animals were hunted too. Is much possible that some animals between 3 to 4 years old are included, but as those are accepted as "adults" by some circles, they are fair to be included. As far I know, a male of that age already had mane, and De Almeida states that all were males, probably all with manes already.

A sample of 5 males in Selous GR gives an average of 167.1 kg (range: 145.4 - 204.7 kg, adjusted), so low averages are common in the east area, but certainly the weights of southern populations surpass these figures by much. In southern Africa are the real giants of the species, by exception of the Crater lions.
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