Name: African Lion
Scientific Name: Panthera LeoAfrican Names: Shumba (Shona), Simba (Swahili), Tau (Tswana), Mbube (Zulu)
Height: 4 1/2 to 6 1/2 feet in length not including tail
Average Adult Weight: 265 to 420 pounds
Life Span: 10 to 14 years in the wild, up to 20 in captivity.
Description: The African lion is a very large cat. The most famous feature is its mane that male lions have. The color of the male's mane varies from blond to black, generally becoming darker as the lion grows older. The body of the African lion is very muscular and well suited for hunting. Its back legs are designed for pouncing and front legs are made for grabbing and bringing down prey. The lion has very strong jaws enabling it to eat the large prey it hunts.
Habitat: Grassy plains, savannas, and semi-deserts of central, eastern, and southern Africa.
Countries found in: Lions live in much of Africa, especially in the southeastern part of the continent.
Babies: Gestation is 100 to 120 days. Litter consist of 1 to 6 cubs with 2 to 3 cubs being the average. Cubs weigh less than 5 pounds at birth.
Food: Lions are carnivores and generally eat wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, buffalo, hippos, warthogs, domestic livestock.
Group Name: Pride of lions. Prides consist of five or six related females and their cubs. Some prides get as big as thirty lions.
Habits: African lions sleep up to 20 hours a day and are most active at night.
Male lions do not stay with prides and sometimes are the head of several prides. Male lions will join together to defend a pride against outside males.
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Predators: African lions do not have any predators.
Interesting Facts: Only male lions have manes.
Groups of female lions usually hunt together.
