Skip to main content Skip to footer site map

Lion

Panthera leo

The lion (Panthera leo) is a large cat in the family Felidae and one of the five living “big cats” in the genus Panthera. It is second in size only to the tiger. Adult size varies by sex and region; a full-grown male typically weighs about 170–230 kg (370–500 lb), and females about 120–180 kg. Historically, lions ranged across much of Africa and Eurasia, but today they are found mainly in sub‑Saharan Africa, with a single wild Asiatic population surviving in western India (Gir Forest region). The species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

The lion (Panthera leo) is a large cat in the family Felidae and one of the five living “big cats” in the genus Panthera. It is second in size only to the tiger. Adult size varies by sex and region; a full-grown male typically weighs about 170–230 kg (370–500 lb), and females about 120–180 kg. Historically, lions ranged across much of Africa and Eurasia, but today they are found mainly in sub‑Saharan Africa, with a single wild Asiatic population surviving in western India (Gir Forest region). The species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.