Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: ConfusedHermit on 21/07/2012 23:53:26

Title: Does emotion play a role in Lion pride hierarchy?
Post by: ConfusedHermit on 21/07/2012 23:53:26

When a lion beats another lion and becomes big and strong while the loser lion becomes weak and smaller, how much of those transformations has to do with emotions?

Or, is it simply because ‘the more dominant one gets more of the food?’ I’m curious because there are a lot of cases where emotions alone affect humans in physical ways; besides what we eat or do.



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Title: Re: Lions and emotions of victory and loss
Post by: Don_1 on 22/07/2012 00:59:11

Lions and other animals may display emotion. Elephants are a good example. But I'm not sure emotion plays any part in the race for 'top dog'. This is just natural selection at work; the strongest, cleverest, best adapted get the best chance to pass on their genes.

Title: Re: Lions and emotions of victory and loss
Post by: ConfusedHermit on 22/07/2012 03:51:41

Okay, simple enough!

I wonder where I heard about loser lions becoming sickly/smaller? Maybe some Lion King fan who thought there was science behind Scar being thinner than Mufasa :{D~

Title: Re: Lions and emotions of victory and loss
Post by: Don_1 on 22/07/2012 09:40:52

A deposed alfa male, in any species, may well retreat into obscurity and may even be driven out of the pack by his successor. He will certainly be on the slippery slope to the end.