Question

When attempting to intimidate, domestic cats often display a behavior where they turn sideways, arch their back, and puff up their fur to appear larger. In the context of larger felines, such as lions, what can be inferred about this intimidation behavior?

A) Lions exhibit the same sideways arching, back-arching, and fur-puffing behavior as domestic cats for intimidation.
B) Lions do not display this intimidation behavior; their intimidation tactics are fundamentally different.
C) The behavior is observed in some larger felines, but not in lions specifically.
D) The intimidation behavior is universal among all feline species, regardless of size.
E) The largest feline that displays this behavior is the cheetah.

Answer 1

Larger felines such as lions do not use the exact intimidation behavior of turning sideways, arching their back, and puffing up their fur as domestic cats do; they have evolved different intimidation tactics suitable for their size and ecology.

Step-by-step explanation:

When domestic cats feel threatened or are trying to intimidate an opponent, they often turn sideways, arch their back, and puff up their fur. This behavior is an example of display behavior used to make themselves appear larger and more dangerous without engaging in actual physical combat. In terms of larger felines like lions, we can deduce that not all large cats use the same intimidation tactics as domestic cats. Lions, being apex predators, rely more on their inherent size and strength. They do not exhibit this specific type of behavior such as sideways arching or fur puffing, since their social structure, behaviors, and environmental interactions have evolved to suit their role in the ecosystem. Therefore, the correct inference about this behavior in lions would be that they use different methods of intimidation that do not include the specific behavior observed in domestic cats.