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Animals

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A-Z

African Lion

Panthera leo

Fiercely protective of his pride, or family
unit, male lions patrol a vast territory normally covering
about 100 square miles (260 square kilometers).

Photograph by Chris
Johns

African Lion Profile

Lions are the only cats that live in groups, which
are called prides. Prides are family units that may
include up to three males, a dozen or so females, and
their young. All of a pride's lionesses are related, and
female cubs typically stay with the group as they age.
Young males eventually leave and establish their own
prides by taking over a group headed by another
male.

Only male lions boast manes, the impressive
fringe of long hair that encircles their heads. Males
defend the pride's territory, which may include some 100
square miles (259 square kilometers) of grasslands,
scrub, or open woodlands. These intimidating animals
mark the area with urine, roar menacingly to warn
intruders, and chase off animals that encroach on their
turf.

Female lions are the pride's primary
hunters. They often work together to prey upon
antelopes, zebras, wildebeest, and other large animals
of the open grasslands. Many of these animals are faster
than lions, so teamwork pays off.

After the hunt,
the group effort often degenerates to squabbling over
the sharing of the kill, with cubs at the bottom of the
pecking order. Young lions do not help to hunt until
they are about a year old. Lions will hunt alone if the
opportunity presents itself, and they also steal kills
from hyenas or wild dogs.

Lions have been
celebrated throughout history for their courage and
strength. They once roamed most of Africa and parts of
Asia and Europe. Today they are found only in parts of
sub-Saharan Africa, except for one very small population
of Asian lions that survives in India's Gir
Forest.

Fast Facts

Type: Mammal

Diet: Carnivore

Size: Head and body, 4.5 to 6.5 ft
(1.4 to 2 m); Tail, 26.25 to 39.5 in (67 to 100
cm)

Weight: 265 to 420 lbs (120 to 191
kg)

Group name: Pride

Protection status: Threatened

Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m)
man:

Multimedia

Photo
Gallery: Big Cats

African Lion Printable Factsheet

Video:
Lives of Lions

African Lion Features

Maneless
in Tsavo

Get intimate with Kenya's famous lions in this
multimedia feature.

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More

Cats:
Plans for Perfection

Go to the drawing board and design the perfect
predator in this online interactive feature.

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Cats Quiz

How much do you know about lions, tigers, jaguars,
and other wild felines? Take the Big Cats challenge and
find out!

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Quiz

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Lion Creature Feature

Get fun facts on African lions, plus video, audio,
photos, and more at National Geographic's Kids site.

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Kids

Other Big Cats

Asian
Lion

Cheetah

Siberian
Tiger

Leopard

Bengal
Tiger

Mountain
Lion

African Lion range

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