Lions in GURPS

Panthera leo

The lion is among the largest of the cats, a huge tawny beast that stalks grasslands, savannas, open woodlands, and scrub. It once ranged across al of Africa, Eurasia, and the Americas. The end of the last ice age saw its extinction in the Americas, and in Classic times it was driven to extinction in Europe and much of India. In modern times, the lion is found in Sub-Saharan Africa and a small part of India.

Lions are gregarious cats. A pride of related females and their young form the basis of a lion pride. One male, or a small group of brothers, associates with the female pride until they are driven off by another male or group of brothers. As they mature, females stay with the pride while males leave to seek their fortunes elsewhere. Males announce their pride's boundaries with loud roars that carry for great distances.

Lions show a pronounced sexual dimorphism. Like all cats, the males are larger, more muscular, and stockier. In lions, however, the males also sport a thick mane of hair that protects their skull, neck, and forequarters in fights with other males.

During the day, lions are commonly seen lazing about. At dusk, they turn into hunters. They will stalk and chase prey cooperatively, circling to cut off paths of retreat or flushing prey into ambushes set by hidden pride-mates. The females are faster and more agile than the males, and consequently are the primary hunters of faster game such as antelope. The superior strength of the males is often employed when attacking larger and more dangerous game, however. Lions commonly take prey as small as warthogs and impala, and occasionally kill even elephants, but prey the size of zeebra, buffalo, and wildebest is the most typical. Lions pose a threat to human livestock, and are thus often persecuted by man. They also show little compunction against killing humans, particularly huans who are out at night. Some lions become habitual man-eaters.

Male lions are nearly fearless in their defense of their pride. They fight off other predators, particualrly maurauding packs of hyeanas, and drive away other males. The latter are a serious threat to the young of the pride, for once a new male or group of males has taken over, they will kill any kittens sired by the previous rulers.

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