Different diet than the inland-lions? Do they have higher test-levels?
I don't know, but that should be taken into consideration.
that sounds stupid to most people but i think there is something worth considering if true
If this is the same pride, same area. These lions live near the water. Most lions hate water, but these lions tend to have adapted to running down game in or around the water. If you have ever run thru water, it's like a "brake", it slows you down, adding resistance. But the lions, particularly the males,
power thru the water (shallow) as they are running down game from land-thru water, back onto land, and so forth.
If they keep doing this on a consistant basis, for yrs, I'd think they would build up muscle. That is the theory was developed by scientists.
Plus, these lions have been noted for having larger muscles in their forelegs, particularly triceps, and also shoulder muscles. And their hindlimbs are muscular as well. Adaptation? Well compare it that to a extinct relative, which was known as an
ambush predator, and known for it's heavily built skeletal structure.
Well, Smilodon (Sabretooth cat) skeletons have shown that the forelimbs were heavily built and muscular for taking down prey---wrestling it to the ground, as well as having a heavily hindlimbs. And their hindlimbs were
shown to have a lot of wear on them from over-torquing.