Transgendered Lion
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2012 9:31 am
The National Geographic web site (link at the bottom of the post) leads, not only to the original text, but also to some excellent photographs (of course).
Rare Maned Lionesses Explained (http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com ... explained/)
by Christine Dell'Amore (http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com ... dellamore/)
National Geographic News (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/)
October 9, 2012
If it looks like a male lion (http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/a ... ican-lion/) and is perceived as a male lionwell, sometimes it isnt. Thats the case of Africas unusual maned lionesses, which sport a males luxurious locks and may even fool competitors.
Though uncommon, maned lionesses have been regularly sighted in the Momba area of Botswana (http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/tr ... ana-guide/)s Okavango Delta (including the individual pictured below), where the lion population may carry a genetic disposition toward the phenomenon, according to Luke Hunter (http://www.panthera.org/people/luke-hunter-phd), president of the big-cat conservation group Panthera, which collaborates with National Geographics Big Cats Initiative (http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/big-cats/).
Hunter said its possible that maned lionesses in Momba are relatedincluding a safari favorite named Martina, which disappeared in 2002.
Such masculine females likely occur when the embryo is disrupted, either at conception or while in the womb, he said by email.
If the former case, the genetic contribution of the spermwhich determines the sex of the fetus in most mammalswas probably aberrant, giving rise to a female with some male characteristics.
Alternatively and perhaps more likely, the problem may have occurred during gestation if the fetus was exposed to increased levels of androgens male hormones such as testosterone.
If a lion mother had abnormally high androgens during pregnancy, her female offspring may end up masculinizeda situation that occurs occasionally in people but which is rarely observed in wild animals.
Whatever the case, such lionesses would likely be infertile but otherwise perfectly capable of surviving, Hunter noted.
In fact, their manes may actually be a boon to the pridefor instance, if the female is perceived as a male, she may better defend kills from hyenas or the pride from attacks by foreign males. In the case of the pictured female, Hunter said, it seems like shes treated as a lioness by the rest of the pride.
It would be interesting to know if she behaved like a male, he added. Two similarly aberrant Serengeti lionesses were outwardly femalethey did not have manes, but were almost male-sized, and they challenged and fought unfamiliar males for territories as though they were males!
http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com ... explained/
Rare Maned Lionesses Explained (http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com ... explained/)
by Christine Dell'Amore (http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com ... dellamore/)
National Geographic News (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/)
October 9, 2012
If it looks like a male lion (http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/a ... ican-lion/) and is perceived as a male lionwell, sometimes it isnt. Thats the case of Africas unusual maned lionesses, which sport a males luxurious locks and may even fool competitors.
Though uncommon, maned lionesses have been regularly sighted in the Momba area of Botswana (http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/tr ... ana-guide/)s Okavango Delta (including the individual pictured below), where the lion population may carry a genetic disposition toward the phenomenon, according to Luke Hunter (http://www.panthera.org/people/luke-hunter-phd), president of the big-cat conservation group Panthera, which collaborates with National Geographics Big Cats Initiative (http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/big-cats/).
Hunter said its possible that maned lionesses in Momba are relatedincluding a safari favorite named Martina, which disappeared in 2002.
Such masculine females likely occur when the embryo is disrupted, either at conception or while in the womb, he said by email.
If the former case, the genetic contribution of the spermwhich determines the sex of the fetus in most mammalswas probably aberrant, giving rise to a female with some male characteristics.
Alternatively and perhaps more likely, the problem may have occurred during gestation if the fetus was exposed to increased levels of androgens male hormones such as testosterone.
If a lion mother had abnormally high androgens during pregnancy, her female offspring may end up masculinizeda situation that occurs occasionally in people but which is rarely observed in wild animals.
Whatever the case, such lionesses would likely be infertile but otherwise perfectly capable of surviving, Hunter noted.
In fact, their manes may actually be a boon to the pridefor instance, if the female is perceived as a male, she may better defend kills from hyenas or the pride from attacks by foreign males. In the case of the pictured female, Hunter said, it seems like shes treated as a lioness by the rest of the pride.
It would be interesting to know if she behaved like a male, he added. Two similarly aberrant Serengeti lionesses were outwardly femalethey did not have manes, but were almost male-sized, and they challenged and fought unfamiliar males for territories as though they were males!
http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com ... explained/
, chooses to self-identify is a personal decision. Languages are always evolving and perhaps one day there will be popular and scientific agreement on the usage of transgendered versus transgender. There are certainly ongoing arguments about this. Nonetheless, recent publications from respected organizations favor 'transgender' over 'transgendered.' The World Professional Society for Transgender Health strictly adheres to 'transgender people' in version 7 (July 2012) of the Standards of Care (
