The lion (Panthera leo) is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg (550 lb) in weight,[4] it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger. Wild lions currently exist in Sub-Saharan Africa and in Asia with an endangered remnant population in Gir Forest National Park in India, having disappeared from North Africa and Southwest Asia in historic times. Until the late Pleistocene, about 10,000 years ago, the lion was the most widespread large land mammal after humans. The lion is a vulnerable species, having seen a possibly irreversible population decline of thirty to fifty percent over the past two decades in its African range.
Ten Facts about Lion
- When it comes to mating, lions are the champions! Lions can copulate up to as many as 100 times in a 24 hr. period!
- Lions run at a rate of 50 mph (81 kmph) & sleep up to 20 hours a day.
- Male lions can usually only hold on to a pride for 2-4 years before a younger, stronger male or coalition of males throws him out and takes over.
- Males begin to really grow between 3 and 3 1/2 years and by 4 will be almost their adult size and weight.
- Both males and females continue to grow until they are 6 years old, primarily becoming more massive.
- The lion is the tallest (at the shoulder) of the felines, and also is the second-heaviest feline after the tiger.
- With powerful legs, a strong jaw, and 8 cm (3.1 in) long canine teeth, the lion can bring down and kill large prey.
- Weights for adult lions range between 150-250 kg (330-550 lb) for males and 120-182 kg (264-400 lb) for females.
- Head and body length is 170-250 cm (5 ft 7 in - 8 ft 2 in) in males and 140-175 cm (4 ft 7 in - 5 ft 9 in) in females; shoulder height is about 123 cm (4 ft) in males and 107 cm (3 ft 6 in) in females.
- Ligers are typically between 3.0 and 3.7 m (10 to 12 feet) in length, and can be between 360 and 450 kg (800 to 1,000 pounds) or more.
