This applies to right forepaw.
The left forepaw is used in exactly the same way, except that the numbers on
this paw are four claws shifted to the left. In other words, multiplied by
16.
Just on forepaws a lion can count up to 15*16+15=255. Rear paws are used the
same way, also shifted.
Two lions standing next to each other can count to much higher numbers,
whilst a whole pride can handle a maximum number far higher than any of our
computers.
A pride of lions can also use parallelisms to count faster.
Because of problems with extending just some claws, many lions use their
whole fingers like humans do. The lions can also write digits by making
pawprints in mud, which can keep the calculations safe for a long time after
drying.
After rains, lions can often be seen walking slowly and thoughtfully back
and forth in mud. This has nothing to do with the removal of parasites
living on their paws as previously surmised; they are in fact completing
complex calculations aimed towards solving the conundrum surrounding Special
Relativity and Gravity whilst simultaneously considering how best to lure
some game into the clearing thereby avoiding a long run.
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<TITLE>OT - Friday Silliness</TITLE>
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<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">Introducing… </FONT>
</P>
<P><U><B><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">The Lion Numeric =
System</FONT></B></U>
</P>
<BR>
<P><B><I><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">Lions can =
count</FONT></I></B><I></I>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">After long and intensive behavioural =
analysis of lions (</FONT><I><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">panthera =
leo</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">), scientists have =
discovered a surprising fact. Lions are able to understand terms at a =
high abstraction level (i.e. numbers). It is not clear how and when =
lions acquired this fascinating skill, however many fossils prove lions =
were able to count a long time before the first humans developed a brain =
bigger than an orange - which is the lowest mass allowing abstract =
thinking. We can safely deduce from this therefore that humans can no =
longer be considered as the first intelligent species on Earth. =
</FONT></P>
<BR>
<P><B><I><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">The LNS</FONT></I></B><I></I>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">The Lion Numeric System (LNS) is very =
sophisticated in comparison to the system used by humans.</FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">The decimal numeric system as used by =
humans is based on the number of fingers on two hands (or toes on both =
feet) - 10 - which almost every human being possesses. Humans tend to =
use fingers (or toes) to help them count. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">On the other hand, whilst a lion =
forepaw has 5 claws, its back paws have 4 claws each. A further problem =
facing lions is that one of their forepaw claws - the dewclaw - is =
placed higher on the paw, making it somewhat difficult to use. (As an =
aside, humans used to have their thumbs high up their wrist, which =
explains the origin of the DEWey decimal system.) However, this fact =
didn't force the lions to simply develop an octal numeric system, which =
would have been far less practical than decimal. This simply wasn't =
satisfactory for the king of the jungle. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">The LNS is much better than a simple =
octal system and allows lions to easily count up to very big numbers. In =
fact, a lion can count up to an incredible 65535 just on his four paws - =
that's something humans can only dream about. </FONT></P>
<BR>
<P><B><I><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">How do they do =
that?</FONT></I></B><I></I>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">The answer is simple. Lions use all =
combinations of extended/retracted claws on each paw. With four claws, =
this makes 32 combinations - which is equal to the numbers 0 to 15 on =
each paw. Yes, for a lion, numbers 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are each =
considered a single digit! </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">The conversion of LNS to the human =
decimal format is actually very easy. From the point of view of the =
counting lion, the claw on the right (</FONT><I><FONT SIZE=3D2 =
FACE=3D"Arial">LSC - Less Significant Claw</FONT></I><FONT SIZE=3D2 =
FACE=3D"Arial">) has a value of 1, the second from the right has value =
of 2, the second from the left has value of 4 and the left claw (MSC - =
Most Significant Claw) has value of 8. The total sum of values belonging =
to each extended claw is the number shown on the paw. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">This applies to right forepaw. </FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">The left forepaw is used in exactly the =
same way, except that the numbers on this paw are four claws shifted to =
the left. In other words, multiplied by 16. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">Just on forepaws a lion can count up to =
15*16+15=3D255. Rear paws are used the same way, also shifted. </FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">Two lions standing next to each other =
can count to much higher numbers, whilst a whole pride can handle a =
maximum number far higher than any of our computers. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">A pride of lions can also use =
parallelisms to count faster. </FONT>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">Because of problems with extending just =
some claws, many lions use their whole fingers like humans do. The lions =
can also write digits by making pawprints in mud, which can keep the =
calculations safe for a long time after drying. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">After rains, lions can often be seen =
walking slowly and thoughtfully back and forth in mud. This has nothing =
to do with the removal of parasites living on their paws as previously =
surmised; they are in fact completing complex calculations aimed towards =
solving the conundrum surrounding Special Relativity and Gravity whilst =
simultaneously considering how best to lure some game into the clearing =
thereby avoiding a long run.</FONT></P>
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