Earth and Sky:King of Beasts 狮子

King of Beasts 狮子

Even skywatchers connect lions with royalty¹. For example, the brightest star in the constellation² Leo the Lion is called Regulus -- which means "little king." Discover why lions are said to be the king of beasts -- today on Earth and Sky.

JB: This is Earth and Sky, with a listener's question. He writes, "Why are lions sometimes called 'the king of beasts'?"

DB: People have made this association for a couple of thousand years at least. But lions are not the biggest of animals -- and they're not the strongest. A lion would fit into the mouth of a blue whale. And, even among cats, the tiger is more powerful than the lion.

JB: Adult male lions look regal, with flowing manes framing their faces. Not only does this long, thick fur soften³ an enemy's blows, it also makes a lion's head look bigger -- perhaps giving it an appearance of being "crowned." The lion's roar is impressive, too. Lions roar to define their territory -- and the thundering sound can be heard from several kilometers away.

DB: And some might say that a lion lives a life "fit for a king." Lions typically sleep for about 20 hours a day. Unless it's provoked, a lion's leisure is usually only interrupted by the hunt for food -- most often, a zebra or wildebeest. After a fierce battle, lions will feast until full -- sometimes eating up to 75 pounds of meat at one meal!

JB: And here's another way lions are king -- they're pretty much at the top of the food chain in the plains of Africa where most of the wild lions live today. Ask us your science question on our website at earthsky.org. With thanks to the National Science Foundation, we're Block and Byrd for Earth and Sky.

1 royalty   

n.皇家，皇族

参考例句：

• She claims to be descended from royalty.她声称她是皇室后裔。
• I waited on tables，and even catered to royalty at the Royal Albert Hall.我做过服务生， 甚至在皇家阿伯特大厅侍奉过皇室的人。

2 constellation   

n.星座n.灿烂的一群

参考例句：

• A constellation is a pattern of stars as seen from the earth. 一个星座只是从地球上看到的某些恒星的一种样子。
• The Big Dipper is not by itself a constellation. 北斗七星本身不是一个星座。

3 soften   

v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和

参考例句：

• Plastics will soften when exposed to heat.塑料适当加热就可以软化。
• This special cream will help to soften up our skin.这种特殊的护肤霜有助于使皮肤变得柔软。