Physically, Neua Lions are quite similar to the extinct American Lions and Smilodon. They're a very large subspecies of lion, much larger than any other lions. Generally weighing from 850-1000 lb, generally standing 4 ft to 5 ft 5 at the shoulder and generally 12 ft 2 to 16 ft in length (including tail). They have fairly long legs, but they're typically thicker and stronger than that of most lions, including American Lions. Neua Lions have especially powerful hind legs and are able to climb and jump with relative ease. When climbing they use their hind legs to propel them and their front legs to grip, somewhat like a black bear.
The Neua Lions have unique jaws that can open much wider than most subspecies of lions. Their gape is around 90 degrees, compared with most other lions' gape of 65 degrees and the Smilodon gape of 120 degrees. Their backs generally have a slightly different slope than that of other lions. Typically, their backs don't slope down from their shoulders much. Instead, their backs are mostly straight with the slope in their back beginning to slope down right before their hip joint.
Both genders typically have manes and long tails.
They're able to mate at the age of two, but it's unwise and typically advised against because they're physically mature, not mentally. (Much like teenagers can have kids, but they shouldn't because they're normally not ready for that responsibility.) Most neua lions mate for the first time around the age of five years.
The Neua Lions have unique jaws that can open much wider than most subspecies of lions. Their gape is around 90 degrees, compared with most other lions' gape of 65 degrees and the Smilodon gape of 120 degrees. Their backs generally have a slightly different slope than that of other lions. Typically, their backs don't slope down from their shoulders much. Instead, their backs are mostly straight with the slope in their back beginning to slope down right before their hip joint.
Both genders typically have manes and long tails.
They're able to mate at the age of two, but it's unwise and typically advised against because they're physically mature, not mentally. (Much like teenagers can have kids, but they shouldn't because they're normally not ready for that responsibility.) Most neua lions mate for the first time around the age of five years.
Male Neua Lions are larger than females. An adult male in his prime is generally at the higher end of the subspecies measurements. Male cubs are often chubbier than female cubs and much more clumsy. They grow very thick, luscious manes, most of which are relatively close in style to an African lion's mane. However, sometimes males have manes that are more unique in style, often looking more like hair than a mane (like a female's mane, but often bigger). Most males have tails that are very similar to an African lion's tail, but much, much longer. Their tails frequently have more hair on the tip than the tail of an African lion. Occasionally, males are born with bob tails, which can very greatly in length. However, this is very rare in males. Most males born with these bob tails also have quite a bit of other rare qualities. These males often do not make it passed a year of age for unknown reasons. It's speculated that they need their tails for balance, and that the already clumsy male cubs are made even clumsier by the absence of their tails, which leads to their eventual demise. Another speculation is that this rarity is a defect coupled with other defects, perhaps of the heart or lungs.
Female Neua Lions are smaller than males. However, an adult female in her prime is typically around the lower middle of the subspecies measurements. Female cubs are often much more sleek and graceful than males, but somewhat more lazy. They grow thick manes, but they're smaller than the manes of most males. A female's mane often looks more like hair than a mane. The hair in their mane grows much faster than the hair in a male's mane, making frequent grooming and care a must. Most females have tails that are similar to big cats other than lions (snow leopards, clouded leopards and leopards being the most common). Their tails are much thicker than a male's tail, often due to fluff. Occasionally, females are also born with bob tails, which vary in length. This is more rare in males, but still rather rare in females. Most females born with these bob tails, like the males, have other rare traits as well. While the survival rate of the bob-tailed females is higher than that of their male counterparts, a lot of females also die. The speculations are mostly the same for both genders.