# Asiatic lion (*Panthera leo persica*) The Asiatic lion is a big cat that lives in the Gir Forest of India. They have a beautiful golden coat and are known for their majestic manes. These lions are social animals and often live in groups called prides. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 5/5 · Extreme - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Indian Lion ![Asiatic lion](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Asiatic_Lioness_in_Gir_Forest.jpg&width=800) Photo: Sumeet Moghe, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Asiatic_Lioness_in_Gir_Forest.jpg) ## Appearance The Asiatic lion has a tawny to sandy-brown coat and a distinctive, shorter mane on males compared to African lions. A unique longitudinal fold of skin runs along its belly. Its body is muscular with powerful legs. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Felidae - **Genus:** Panthera ## Interesting facts - Historically, Asiatic lions ranged from Turkey to India, a truly vast empire! - Male Asiatic lions often don't share kills with females, a unique trait among lions! - Only a few hundred Asiatic lions remain in their last wild home, India's Gir Forest! - These lions have a special skin fold running along their belly, not seen on African lions! ## Special abilities - **Ambush Master:** The Asiatic lion has a sandy coat that helps it camouflage perfectly in dry grasslands and stalk prey unseen. - **Teamwork Takedown:** Asiatic lions can hunt in groups, working together to corner and overpower larger prey animals effectively. - **Crushing Bite:** The Asiatic lion has incredibly strong jaws and sharp teeth that help them deliver a powerful, fatal bite to their prey. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 140-250 cm - **Weight:** 110-190 kg - **Lifespan:** 16-18 years - **Speed:** 80 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-6 - **Gestation:** 100-119 days ## Diet & Feeding These powerful predators hunt large mammals, keeping their ecosystem healthy. - **Primary Foods:** Sambar deer, Chital deer, Nilgai, Wild boar - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Sambar deer (*Rusa unicolor*) — primary large prey - **Hunts:** Chital deer (*Axis axis*) — frequent food source - **Hunts:** [Nilgai](https://www.snappit.app/explore/nilgai) (*Boselaphus tragocamelus*) — large antelope prey - **Depends on:** Striped Hyena (*Hyaena hyaena*) — scavenges lion's leftovers ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [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. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [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. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 5/5 · Extreme Always admire lions from a safe distance, like at a zoo or in a documentary. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Asiatic 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 Asiatic lion? 140-250 cm ### How much does Asiatic lion weigh? 110-190 kg ### How long does Asiatic lion live? 16-18 years ### How fast can Asiatic lion move? 80 km/h ### What does Asiatic lion eat? These powerful predators hunt large mammals, keeping their ecosystem healthy. ### Where is Asiatic lion usually found? Grasslands ### How does Asiatic lion hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Cotswold Wildlife Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cotswold-wildlife-park) — England, GB · Zoo - [Fota Wildlife Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fota-wildlife-park) — Municipal District of Cobh, IE · Zoo - [Diergaarde Blijdorp](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/diergaarde-blijdorp) — South Holland, NL · Zoo - [Zoo Osnabrück](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-osnabruck) — Niedersachsen, DE · Zoo - [Tiergarten Nürnberg](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tiergarten-nurnberg) — Bayern, DE · Zoo - [Zoologischer Garten Schwerin](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoologischer-garten-schwerin) — Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, DE · Zoo [View all places to see Asiatic lion](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/asiatic-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: [Asiatic lion: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/asiatic-lion)