| NAME | DESCRIPTION |
| AFRICAN LION | The lion is the only cat exhibiting sexual dimorphism, which means that male and females lions look different from each other. African lions are large, muscular, barrel-chested cats. They have a rounded head, round ears, short fur, and a long tail with a tuft of hair at the end. Male lions grow a luxurious collar of long hair, called a “mane,” around their necks. |
| MEASUREMENT | MALE | FEMALE |
| HEAD TO BODY LENGTH | 1.8–2.1 meters (6–7 feet) long, | 1.5 meters |
| SHOULDER HEIGHT | 1.2 METERS | 0.9–1.1 meters |
| TAIL LENGTH | 3 FEET | 3 FEET |
| WEIGHT | 265-420 KG | 122-182kg (269-401lbs) |
| CHARACTERISTICS | DESCRIPTION |
| RANGE | SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA |
| HABITAT | SAVANNAS, GRASSLANDS, AND OPEN WOODLANDS |
| PRIMARY DIET | CARNIVORE |
| FOOD HABITATS | African lions prefer to hunt large ungulates, including zebra, African buffalo, gemsbok, giraffe, and wildebeest. |
| CONSERVATION STATUS | EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE VULNERABLE The wild population decreased in numbers approximately 43% from 1993 to 2014. The 2014 census estimated about 7500 wild lions remained, but the numbers have continued to decline since that time. |
| REASON FOR THE STATUS | One of the main causes is the alarming rate at which they are losing their habitats due to expanding human populations and the resulting growth of agriculture, settlements, and roads. Human-wildlife conflict is also a major threat. As lion habitats shrink, the big cats are being forced into closer quarters with humans. |
| CHARACTERISTICS | DESCRIPTION: REPRODUCTION & BEHAVIOR |
| GESTATION PERIOD | 110-119 DAYS |
| YOUNG PER BIRTH | 3-6 CUBS |
| WEANING | 6-7 MONTHS |
| SEXUAL MATURITY | Female African lions reach sexual maturity. 2 TO 3 YEARS OF AGE and males around the age of four. |
| BEHAVIOR | POLYGYNY Sleeping: Lions sleep for 16 to 20 hours a day. Hunting: They most often hunt at dawn or dusk, adapting their schedule to their prey. Communication: Lions use vocalizations, head rubbing, licking, facial expressions, chemical marking, and visual marking. Their fierce roar is well-known, but they may also growl, meow, snarl, and purr. Territorial Defense: Males defend the pride’s territory by marking it with urine, roaring, and chasing off intruders. Hunting and Leadership: Female lions are the primary hunters and leaders within the pride, working together to prey upon large animals. Social Behaviors: Lions engage in grooming, playful interactions (especially cubs), and communicate through various vocalizations. |
| MAIN PREADATOR | NO NATURAL PREDATORS |
| LIFESPAN IN THE WILD | 30 YEARS |
| LIFESPAN IN CAPTIVITY | 29 YEARS |