Panthera leo

A muscular body, strong forelegs and a mostly yellow-gold coat are characteristic.

Adult males usually have a mane, whose development varies.

Cubs have faint coat spots that fade as they grow.

Related females form the core of a pride. Members often spend time in smaller subgroups.

Zebras and wildebeest are among their prey. Lions also take smaller animals and scavenge.

Hunting often takes place at night, including dusk and dawn.

Roars help lions communicate and advertise territory; scent marks convey information too.

Females may give birth close together in time, and cubs can nurse from other pride females.

Habitat loss, reduced wild prey and conflict over livestock threaten lion populations.

After roughly four months of pregnancy, a lioness gives birth in a secluded place.

Cubs begin eating meat at about three months but usually nurse until around six months.

Young males usually leave their birth pride; females often remain. Some dispersing males form groups together.

Lions inhabit savannas, scrub and woodland. Suitable prey and cover for hunting and shelter are important.

Sub-Saharan Africa: Wild populations have a fragmented distribution across this broad region.

Gujarat, India: In Asia, wild lions persist in the Gir forest and surrounding landscapes.

A long-term Serengeti study linked variation in male mane colour and length to condition, competition and temperature. The findings concern the studied lions; a mane is not a universal measure of health or dominance.