THE lion’s mane, that magnificent ruff associated with vigour and virility, is a turn-off for lionesses, scientists have found.

Zoologists have discovered that the more impressive the mane the more likely lionesses are to turn away in favour of a balder mate.

Far from being a guarantee of feline virility and strength, an impressive mane indicates to the females that the lion is past his prime.

In human terms, a full mane is the equivalent of the way men’s noses and ears get hairier with age, with a predictable reduction in sexual magnetism.

The findings overturn the assumption that the males’ manes were at their proudest when the lions were at their fittest, and suggests that Disney might want to think about remaking The Lion King.

Professor Julian Kerbis Peterhans, of Roosevelt University, Chicago, in the US, said the findings apply to all African lions — Panthera leo — irrespective of different habitats, rainfall levels and hunting patterns.

“Up until now, it has been incorrectly assumed that lions typically achieve the full extent of mane development by the time they reach 4 to 5 years of age,” he said. “Usually lions are well past their breeding prime when they carry the most extensive and often darkest manes of their lives.

“This phenomenon carries across the board to all African lion populations.”

The study, reported in the Journal of Zoology, concentrated on lions in two different habitats where there is a direct link between the climate. Those living in the arid greater Tsavo ecosystem (GTE) near the equator at elevations of 2,600ft (800m) or less have much shorter manes than those in the cooler equatorial middle-elevation plains (EMEP).

Previous research uncovered the link between average mane length and climate, but the new findings show that within each population the link with age holds true too.

Tsavo lions are widely regarded as maneless, but the team showed that 87 per cent of adult manes do sport a mane, albeit thinly, once they reach maturity.

“The manes of GTE lions, however, were poorer on average, relative to age, than the manes of EMEP lions. For both groups there was a significant relationship between age and mane type,” the report added.

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