|
Mammal.
Male lions are the only cats with tufted tails and manes. They can reach
a length of 2.5 meters (8 feet) and a height of 1.2 meters (4 feet).
Unlike most other cat species, lions are very social animals. They live
in an extended family called a “pride,” that is made up of
about 15 individuals, centered around a group of related females. The
pride's social system is based on cooperation and division of labor.
By hunting together, the pride can catch prey that could outrun a single
lion. Despite their vast differences from house cats, lions do clean
themselves, like to rub on things, and are known to chase their own tails. |
| Scientific
Name |
Lifespan |
| Panthera leo |
15 years, 30 in captivity |
| Diet |
| Carnivore. Wildebeest, water buffalo, warthogs, gazelles, zebras, antelope, and a wide range of others from small rodents to young elephants when needed. |
| Predators and Threats |
| Humans. |
| Habitat |
| Savannas, grasslands, woodlands, and dense brush; sub-Saharan Africa, and a very small population in India. |
