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African buffalo and lion

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Washington, DC, United States

Watch out for this buffalo! Its handlebar horns make dangerous weapons, and it can run up to 48 km (30 mi) an hour.

Why don’t these lions have manes?

They are females, who do most of the hunting while the males protect their territory. One female lion claws a buffalo’s back. Another avoids its thrashing hooves. By cooperating, lions can bring down a healthy adult buffalo, which weighs up to 590 kg (1,300 lb). Even here, the outcome is uncertain. The buffalo may fend off the lions with its lethal horns and hooves.

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  • Title: African buffalo and lion
  • Type: Taxidermy Specimen
  • Rights: This image was obtained from the Smithsonian Institution. The image or its contents may be protected by international copyright laws. http://www.si.edu/termsofuse
  • USNM Catalog Number(s): 589636, 589637, 589638
  • Scientific Name: <i>Syncerus caffer</i> and <i>Panthera leo</i>
  • Photo Credit: Carl C. Hansen, Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History & Smithsonian Institution Archives
  • Field: Vertebrate Zoology
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

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