Why do lions have barbed

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The mating behaviour of lions is a painful process for the female. The penis is barbed and its withdrawal hurts the female who may twist around and attack the dismounting male. The pain is necessary for feline mating as it is the shock to her system that induces ovulation and permits fertilization. Lionesses have a gestation period of three and a half months about days.

Lions live up to about 18 years old in the wild. Lions have long been killed in rituals of bravery, as hunting trophies and for their medicinal and magical powers.

They help ensure that his genes are passed on through successful mating. He was not born with them, and if he was neutered very young he may never even develop them. Male kittens are not born with barbed penises. Mar Vista Animal Medical Center, a veterinary clinic in California, says that cats reach puberty when they are about 6 months old. The barbs develop on the penis at this point because their purpose is to aid in reproduction.

One purpose of the barbs on a cat's penis is to aid in a female's ovulation. For every cub that survives to yearling stage, lions copulate an estimated times.

Only 1 estrus in 5 results in progeny and estrus lasts 4 days to a week, during which couples mate 2. Either animal will initiate mating by rubbing heads or sniffing. The two literally sleep, mate, sleep, mate, sleep and mate again during this time. If females fail to conceive they will re-enter estrus approximately two weeks later and the cycle begins anew. The couple may mate hundreds of times over several days, but afterward, when they return to the pride, they show no special interest in each other.

Surprisingly, coalition partners hardly ever fight over mating rights. The first to reach a female in heat becomes her consort—until and unless he has had enough. As partners are usually equals, fighting would impair their ability to withstand takeover attempts. When a male cat opens his mouth and wrinkles his nose, it may mean he smells a receptive female.

By smelling through a special organ in the roof of its mouth, a male cat senses when a female is ready to mate.