Every second counts in the attack. A single mistake can mean serious injury from the prey’s thrashing hooves and horns. But big cats are quick to subdue their victims. Their long claws, which are normally retracted in their paws for protection, flick out like grappling hooks to snag flesh. Saber-like canine teeth pierce and hold the struggling animal, giving it little chance of escape.
This yawning lion is showing off its huge canine teeth. These can be about three inches long, to penetrate the skin of animals and hold on. Lions are found inAfrica and parts of India. Even though they are powerful hunters, they can also be scavengers, feeding on prey that has been killed by other animals, such as hyenas and leopards.
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