There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
(06-10-2015, 03:34 PM)sanjay Wrote: Question to Guate, Peter and other lion experts
According to classification of Lion (I read first from Gaute posts) Barbary Lion is same as Asiatic Lion. But when I see images of Barbary Lion (in captivity) Their physical appearance seems to be different from any other lion sub species including Asiatic. And its clearly very visible. Look at the following images
Barbary Lion form Hillside
*This image is copyright of its original author
*This image is copyright of its original author
*This image is copyright of its original author
And finally sultan
*This image is copyright of its original author
Look at the face cuts. Certainly they are different then any other lion sub species.
I know science prove them same but the mind and vision do not agree on this.
Scientifically I am convince that they are same species but heart and vision say did science make error in this case ?
I want to hear your views, Apart of science
Sanjay I was fortunate to see some of the Barbary lions in Temara zoo in Morocco in the 1970's and early 1980's..the closest picture to them is the bottom one, they were massive lions with pale clear iris, short thick legs, and luxurious manes. They look different to Asiatic lions a d I believe they should be classified separately but the way we classify animals is through the proximity of their mitochondrial DNA and not morphology...so yes Barbary and Asiatic lions are considered the same species with some authorities or two closely related subspecies by others.
The subspecies question is one of conservation more than biology when it comes to lions...the differences between different lions are smaller than the differences between human racial group so there should be really one species of lions, jaguars, snow leopards, and cheetahs with no subspecies....two subspecies of tigers (mainland and sunda) and three of leopards ( African, West Asian, and Asian). The problem is you will get less attention trying to conserve Amur tigers if you say there are 100,000 leopards in the world...now if you say there are less than 50 Amur leopards the situation becomes far more urgent.