African and Asian Lions (Panthera leo) Fact Sheet: Summary

Describer (Date): Linnaeus (1758)

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Family: Felidae

Genus: Panthera 

Species: Panthera leo

Subspecies currently recognized (IUCN revisions in progress):
         P. l. leo
         P. I. melanochaita

Pelage: Short, tawny-colored hair on body, face, and tail. Many males with mane; some without. Black tuft on tail tip. Cub have spots that fade with age.

Body weight: 
Males: 150-225 kg (331-496 lbs)
Females: 122-192 kg (269-423 lbs)

Head-body length:
Males: 172-250 cm (5.6-8.2 ft)
Females: 158-192 cm (5.2-6.3 ft)

Shoulder height:
Male: 123 cm (4 ft)
Female: 107 cm (3.5 ft)

Tail length: 60-100 cm (2-3.3 ft)

Distribution: Sub-Saharan Africa and southwest India (population in Asia). Populations often small and isolated. Occupy a mere 8% of their historic range.

Habitat: Broad habitat tolerance. Africa: woodlands, savanna grasslands, semi-desert, and desert areas. In India, mainly deciduous forest.

IUCN Status: 
Africa: overall, Vulnerable (2014 assessment)
West Africa subpopulations Critically Endangered (2014 assessment)
Asiaic subpopulations: Endangered (2008 assessment)

CITES Status:
Africa: Panthera leo, Appendix II
Asia: Panthera leo persica, Appendix I

U.S. Endangered Species Act:
Endangered

Population in Wild:
Africa: Considerable uncertainty in abundance estimates. 23,000-39,000; likely closer to 20,000 than 30,000 lions remaining.
India: 523 lions in and near Gir Forest

Locomotion: Walking speed of 3-4 km/hr (1.86-2.49 mph). Bursts of speed up to 45-60 km/hr (24-37 mph) for short distances (100-200 m).

Activity Cycle: Inactive for much of the day. Rest 20-21 hours a day. Most active at night, dawn, and dusk. Hunt, feed, and mate at all times of day/night.

Social Groups: Form matriarchal prides. No dominance hierarchy among females. Explore territory and hunt, either by forming subgroups or spending time singly (fission-fusion social dynamics). Male coalitions challenge each other to hold residency with prides of females.

Communication: Many forms. Reinforce social bonds with social licking and head/body rubs. Use facial expressions, body postures, and behavioral displays to convey mood and intent. Variety of vocalizations: roar, grunt, growl, miaow, purr, puff, to name a few. Scent marking and smell an important channel of communication with other lions.

Prey: Large variety of prey. Medium to large-sized ungulates make up bulk of diet. Hunt and scavenge. Wildebeest, zebra, water buffalo, impala, warthog, and waterbuck frequently taken. Will also feed on smaller or unsual prey.

Predators: Humans

Sexual Maturity: Males: about 24 months. Females: first conception at about 43 months, but varies substantially with habitat.

Gestation: 110 days, on average (range: 100-114 days)

Litter Size: Most litters 1-4 cubs; range 1-6

Birth weight: 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs)

Age at Weaning: 6-7 months

Typical Life Expectancy:
Wild populations: median life expectancies unknown; males rarely live past 16 years and females rarely live past 18 years (maximum)
Managed care: median life expectancy of about 17 years

Adaptable hunters

• Most lions live in Africa, but a small population lives in India
  • Populations were once connected
• Once lived on nearly every continent, having the largest contiguous range of any large land mammal (except modern humans)
  • Today, occupy a mere 8% of their historic range
• Found in many habitats, including deserts. Do not need to drink water. Can survive on moisture from prey and plants.
• Opportunistic hunters and scavengers. Surprising prey items include porcupine, mice, ostrich eggs, fish, termites, and on Namibia's beaches, even fur seals

The only truly social cats

• Rub cheeks, chins, and foreheads together in greeting
• Cubs communally raised in crèches. Females nurse one another's cubs. Male cubs from the same crèche may form lifelong alliances.
• Vocalizations and scent marking used to deter "trespassing" lions
• Males hold residency with a pride for only 2-3 years, on average, before new males take over
  • Females then enter an infertile 'testing period,' which is thought to cultivate social bonds with the stranger males
• Conception rates in the wild are low, considering frequency of mating
• Expectant mothers withdraw from their pride to give birth and safeguard cubs

Disappearing from large parts of Africa

• Only ~20,000-30,000 lions left in the wild
• Poaching and humans killing lions to protect livestock are two major threats to lion survival
  • African lion bone finding its way to Asian traditional medicine markets (similar to tiger bone)

History

• Lions were associated with royal power in many ancient cultures
• Lions were exhibited in the Tower of London's Royal Menagerie for 600 years
• A lion was the first exotic animal exhibited in North America

Lions and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

• A roaring lion inspired Dr. Harry Wegeforth to found the San Diego Zoo
• Disney animators visited the San Diego Zoo Safari Park to gain inspiration for The Lion King (1994)
  • "Simba" means lion in the Swahili language
• Lions at the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park go on "meatball hunts" to keep their hunting skills honed
• San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance works to protect lions