Scientist discovered the lioness/lion, called Mmamoriri, on the plains of the Okavango Delta in Botswana, southern Africa. They believe evolution is helping the lionesses there grow manes so they fool invading prides into thinking they are males – helping their survival. Mmamoriri in particular not only has a mane but also a deeper and more masculine roar. If that’s enough to scare off other prides trying to invade her family’s territory, it will be a big genetic advantage – helping her pride’s cubs survive.
The scientists believe there are five other lions in the area with the same evolutionary adaptation, meaning they have higher male hormone levels.
While children are taught to believe all animals are either male or female and all are straight, the natural characteristics shared by LGBTIs in the human world are widespread beyond our species. Other examples include male deer which don’t grow antlers and are therefore able to ‘sneakily’ breed with females while the other males are fighting for access to the does.
Mmamoriri is one of the stars of the new documentary, The World’s Sneakiest Animals, which will be shown in Britain on BBC2 at 6.30pm on Christmas Day. The show, presented by Chris Packham, also shows cuttlefish that can change their color and skin texture to disguise themselves and the Californian Ground Squirrel, that rubs itself with the skin of rattlesnakes, its main predators, so they can’t sniff it out.
