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A male lion with a thick mane lying on a large rock in Serengeti National Park.
Photo: Giles Laurent, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Lion

Panthera leo

A large wild cat of the African savanna that lives in family groups called prides.

🐆 Big Cats
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About the Lion

The lion lives mostly on the savannas and grasslands of Africa, and a small group also lives in the Gir Forest of India. Lions live in groups called prides that can have from 3 to 30 members. Lionesses do most of the hunting and go after large animals like zebras and wildebeest. A male lion's thick mane makes him look bigger to rivals and helps protect his neck in fights.[1][2]

Quick facts

Scientific name
Panthera leo[2]
Size
3.5 to 4 feet (1 to 1.2 meters) tall at the shoulder. Males are larger than females.[2]
Weight
Males: 330 to 570 pounds (150 to 260 kg). Females: 270 to 400 pounds (122 to 180 kg).[1]
Lifespan
In the wild, lionesses can live up to 16 years and males rarely live past 12. In human care, lions can reach their late teens or early 20s.[2]
Diet
Carnivore. Hunts large animals such as zebras and wildebeest.[2]
Habitat
Savannas and grasslands.[2]
Where it lives
Africa, plus a small population in the Gir Forest of India.[2]
Group life
Lives in prides of 3 to 30 lions, depending on how much food and space the area has.[1]
Babies
A mother usually has 1 to 4 cubs at a time.[2]
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN Red List).[1]

Fun facts

  • A lion's roar can be heard up to 3 miles (4.8 km) away.[1]
  • Lions spend about 21 out of every 24 hours sleeping and resting.[1]
  • Lionesses do most of the hunting. They are smaller and more agile than males.[1]
  • Up to 80 percent of lion cubs do not survive their first 2 years.[2]

Vocabulary

pride
A family group of lions that live and hunt together.
carnivore
An animal that eats mostly meat.
savanna
A warm, grassy area with only a few scattered trees.
mane
The long, thick hair that grows around the head and neck of an adult male lion.
vulnerable
A conservation label meaning a species faces a high risk of dying out in the wild.

See it in person

Sources

  1. [1] San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. “Lion.” https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/lion (accessed 2026-10-01)
  2. [2] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Lion.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/lion (accessed 2026-10-01)

Facts last checked 2026-10-01.

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