The Lion is a large cat of the genus Panthera, and it is socially dimorphic. It is an apex and keystone predator and does not actively seek out and prey on humans.
The Lion inhabits grasslands, savannas, and shrublands and is diurnal, but when persecuted, adapts to being active at night and twilight. It has been reduced to fragmented populations in sub-Saharan Africa and western India.
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Lion Facts for Kids
- Lions live in groups called prides.
- Lions are carnivorous
- They live between 8 – 15 Years
- Most of them live in sub-Saharan Africa.
- The female Lion does most of the hunting.
- Baby lions are called cubs.
What does a lion look like
Lions are big cats. They have a strong muscular build with powerful forelimbs. Males have a magnificent mane, while females don’t.
Male Lion
Female Lion
What Do Lions Eat?
Every few days, lions hunt for food. After feeding from their kill, they will rest for a while until they decide to hunt again for more food.
They typically kill medium-sized mammals, such as
Antelopes
Baby Elephants
Birds
Buffaloes
Cheetahs
Crocodiles
Deer
Hares
Hippopotamuses
Leopards
Lizards
Mice
Rhinoceros
Turtles
Wild Dogs
Wild Hogs
Wildebeest
Zebra
Many of them eat animals killed by other hunters, like hyenas. The average male Lion eats 7kgs of food daily, and the average female Lion eats 4.5kgs. As meat-eating animals, lions eat about 70% of what they catch.
How Big is a Lion?
There is a significant difference in size between male and female lions. Females are typically between 4.6 and 5.7 feet long, while males are between 5.6 and 8.3 feet long.
Tails range from 27 to 41 inches long. Male lions weigh 330 to 570 pounds, while females weigh 270 to 400 pounds.
What Noise do Lions Make?
The African Lion doesn’t only roar. In contrast to what we learn at school, lions have an amazing variety of calls. It is common for lions to purr, grunt, growl, hum, meow, roar, and moan.
How Fast Can a Lion Run?
African lions can go 81 km/h (50.3 mph) at maximum speed. At this speed, the Lion ranks second fastest land animal in Africa.
When chasing, they are unable to maintain this unforgiving pace. They are more of a sprinter and not a marathon runner, as this pace is hard to keep up for longer periods of time.
How Many Types of Lions are there?
African and Asian lions are the two main types, but in fact, there are eight.
- Asiatic Lion
- Barbary Lion
- Congo Lion
- Ethiopian Lion
- Masai Lion
- Southwest African Lion
- Transvaal lion
- West African Lion
How long do lions sleep?
Each day, they sleep and rest for up to 21 hours. When it is cooler at night, they become more active because they conserve their energy by resting during the day.
What animals are lions afraid of?
Lions are very cautious around people because human beings are the top threat to them. The lions ensure that other large animals stay out of their way because they are also a danger to them. Wild dogs and hyenas are among the animals that cause lions to flee.
How Many Cubs Does a Female Lion Typically Have?
Typically, lionesses have two or three cubs in each litter. Cubs are normally weaned by the time they are eight months old.
A Group of Lions
Wild lions live in prides of up to 15 individuals, with some prides having up to 30 individuals. Around two or three years of age, male cubs are excluded from their maternal pride.
Some lions are nomadic and move around sporadically. They can switch lifestyles, and adult males spend years in a nomadic phase before gaining residence in a pride.
Lionesses tend to stay on the fringes of their pride area, patrolling their territory. They develop sociality for several reasons, including increased hunting success and reduced calorific intake.
Male and female Asiatic lions defend their pride against intruders, with males being better-suited for this task due to their larger size and stronger build. Males in coalitions of three or four individuals exhibit a pronounced hierarchy.
Related Resources
All about Lions – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion
Lion Conservation – African Wildlife Foundation
