African Lion Facts and Information ~ Panthera leo

The African Lion is probably the most well-known animal!  This information also includes facts about the Asiatic Lion for completeness.

Lion Scientific Name: Panthera leo

African Lion and Asiatic Lion Status

Lion Conservation Status

Globally lions have been classed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List however in parts of their range they are Endangered and Critically Endangered.

Global - Vulnerable (VU)

Asia - Endangered (EN)

West Africa - Critically Endangered (CR)

Reference: IUCN Red List 2025-1

Lion Lower Classifications

Numerous subspecies of lions have been described in the past, however the current taxonomy based on recent genetic data indicates there are only two valid subspecies:

Northern Lion (Panthera leo leo) - Central, West Africa and India (the only population in Asia)

Southern Lion (Panthera leo melanochaita) - Southern and Eastern Africa

In 2017 the taxonomy of the Felidae cat family was assessed which resulted in many new proposals including a revised lion classification.

Lion Size

Lion Weight

Males: 150 to 272 kg

Females: 110 to 168 kg

Lion Head+Body Length

Males: 172 to 250 cm

Females: 158 to 192 cm

Lion Tail length: 60 to 100 cm

Lions are the second largest wild cat in the world and the largest big cat in Africa. Adults weigh over 100kg and males are far larger than females.

Males grow a large mane of hair and as such lions are the only cat species that display sexual dimorphism (genders have physical differences). Lions are also the only wild cats to have tufted tails.

Lion Range and Habitat

Lion Distribution: Africa and Asia (India)

Lion Altitude:  Sea level to 3500m (some records to 4300m)

Lion Habitat:  Most habitats except true desert and dense tropical forest

Historically lions occurred both in sub-Saharan Africa as well as in the north from Northern Africa into Southwest Asia and into Europe. However only a remnant population remains in India of the original northern population, and present day populations only occur in pockets in and near protected areas in sub-Saharan Africa.

The most common type of habitat occupied by lions is the mosaic of open woodland and grassland savannas of East and Southern Africa, where they occur in their highest densities. However lions also occur in a variety of other habitats from moist open forests in Central Africa to semi-arid scrub in the deserts of south west Africa.

Lion Behavior

Lion Prey:  Larger herbivores

Lion Social Structure: Social in Prides

Lion Territory Size: 12 to 500 km2

Lion Range Size: 35 to 17221 km2

Lion Density: 0.05 to 38 per 100 km2

Being one of the largest cat species, lions have the physical strength to hunt the larger antelope species as well as zebras and buffaloes. Smaller prey may be taken when prey are less abundant during leaner times.  Most hunts involve the co-operation of a number of lionesses, however individual lions (male or female) can also take down smaller prey on their own.

Lions are the only cats that live in social units called prides. Males and females live together over a number of generations with females tending to stay in the pride they were born into, but young males leaving to form their own prides.

The sizes of lion home ranges (territories), their total area (range size) and therefore density depends on the available prey in the habitat they occupy. Dry regions with low prey density require lions to forage much wider to encounter prey compared to moister habitats with abundant prey. Hence lion densities across Africa vary widely due to the wide variety of habitats that lions occupy.

Lion Life Cycle

Lion Gestation: 98-110 days (avg 110 days)

Lion Litter Size: 2 - 4 cubs (max 7)

Lion Sub-Adult: 18 months

Lion Maturity: 

Males 26 - 28 months

Females 30 - 36 months

Lion Lifespan:  12 to 18 years in the wild

The breeding cycle of lions can vary depending on a number of factors, including whether prey are resident or migratory. Even though juveniles become mature between two and three years of age, females usually only breed around four years old and males at six years old, again dependent on many conditions such as the numbers of other mature male lions in the population.

Natural mortality of males from fighting or hunting tends to be higher than females, often occurring during the dispersal period.