As one of the big cats, the Lion is uniquely social, living in prides and hunting in groups.  Lions also set themsevles apart from other cats with the male's distinct mane creating a clear difference between the male and female.

Females are the foundation of lion society: as hunters, cub rearers, and both owners and defenders of the pride's range.  While females thrive as members of a kin group, the can also survice on their own.

Within a pride the females typically related: mothers, daughters, aunts, cousins. It is thought that an unrelated female will only be accepted into a pride in times of flux when the pride's population is not secure or stable.