What is the purpose of a lion's mane?

Quick Answer. The mane on a male lion serves as ornamentation, akin to the beautiful iridescent feathers on a male peacock, and it is used to attract attention from lionesses and to intimidate competing males. The quality and color of the mane also signal a particular lion's overall health and fitness. read more

Lion manes serve a similar function as this typical cat behavior; the size and density of the mane can help a lion appear larger, and therefore more threatening, warning away possible opponents. That intimidating appearance ties into the second function of the mane: a symbol of health and potency. read more