# African Lion (*Panthera leo*) African lions are powerful big cats and live in groups called prides. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 5/5 · Extreme - **Habitat:** Grasslands and savannas of Africa. - **Also known as:** King of the Jungle, Lion ![African Lion](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424422/objects/4396.jpg) ## Appearance The African Lion has a tawny yellow to golden-brown coat, blending perfectly with savanna grasslands. Males possess a distinctive, often dark and shaggy mane that encircles their head and shoulders. Their long tail ends with a characteristic black tuft. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Felidae - **Genus:** Panthera ## Interesting facts - A group of lions is called a pride, not a herd or a pack! - Lion cubs are born blind and cannot see for about a week. - Lion tongues are so rough they can lick skin off bones! - Male lions defend the pride's territory with loud, powerful roars. ## Special abilities - **Mighty Roar:** African Lions can produce a powerful roar that travels up to 8 km, helping them communicate and mark territory. - **Night Vision Master:** African Lions have excellent night vision because their eyes are adapted for low light, crucial for hunting after dark. - **Team Hunter:** African Lions hunt cooperatively in groups, allowing them to take down much larger prey than hunting alone. - **Bone Crusher Jaws:** African Lions have incredibly strong jaws and teeth that help them crush bones and tear through tough hides. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 140-250 cm - **Weight:** 120-250 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-14 years - **Speed:** 80 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-6 - **Gestation:** 100-119 days ## Diet & Feeding Lions are powerful carnivores, hunting large animals to sustain their pride. - **Primary Foods:** Wildebeest, Zebra, African Buffalo, Antelopes, Warthogs - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Wildebeest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wildebeest) (*Connochaetes taurinus*) — A primary prey animal. - **Hunts:** [Plains Zebra](https://www.snappit.app/explore/plains-zebra) (*Equus quagga*) — Frequently hunted for food. - **Hunts:** [African Buffalo](https://www.snappit.app/explore/african-buffalo) (*Syncerus caffer*) — A challenging but rewarding prey. - **Symbiotic with:** Spotted Hyaena (*Crocuta crocuta*) — Fierce competitors for food and territory. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Whiskered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/whiskered): Possessing prominent sensory hairs or vibrissae, often around the snout. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Savanna](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/savanna): This habitat trait denotes species native to savannas, which are grasslands with scattered trees, typically found in tropical or subtropical regions with distinct wet and dry seasons. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Threatened](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/threatened): Threatened status denotes a species likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future without effective conservation interventions. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 5/5 · Extreme Extremely dangerous predator. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify African Lion? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is African Lion? 140-250 cm ### How much does African Lion weigh? 120-250 kg ### How long does African Lion live? 10-14 years ### How fast can African Lion move? 80 km/h ### What does African Lion eat? Lions are powerful carnivores, hunting large animals to sustain their pride. ### Where is African Lion usually found? Grasslands and savannas of Africa. ### How does African Lion hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [John Ball Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/john-ball-zoo) — Michigan, US · Zoo - [Abilene Zoological Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/abilene-zoological-gardens) — Texas, US · Zoo - [Akron Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/akron-zoo) — Ohio, US · Zoo - [Alexandria Zoological Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alexandria-zoological-park) — Louisiana, US · Zoo - [Birmingham Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/birmingham-zoo) — Alabama, US · Zoo - [Buffalo Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/buffalo-zoo) — New York, US · Zoo [View all places to see African Lion](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/african-lion) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [African Lion: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/african-lion)