Lion

Lions are the only big cats that live in family groups, called prides — usually a few related lionesses, their cubs, and one or two males. Teamwork is their secret weapon: lionesses hunt together like a well-practiced sports team, while males guard the territory.

Lions live on the open savannas and grasslands of Africa, where tall golden grass hides a tawny cat surprisingly well. A small, separate group survives in one forest in India. A lion's body is built for short bursts and big pushes rather than long chases: heavy shoulders, thick front legs and paws the size of dinner plates. Only the males grow a mane, and it does two jobs at once — it makes him look bigger to rivals and it pads his neck in a fight. Lions spend the hottest part of the day flat out in the shade, which is why you will hear people say the king of the beasts is really the king of the nap.

Lions are carnivores, and their favorite meals are big grazers like zebra, antelope and buffalo. Most of the hunting is done by the lionesses, usually at night or in the cool of dawn, and they work as a team: some fan out to push the herd while others wait in the grass for an animal to run their way. A lion cannot outrun a zebra over a long distance, so the whole trick is getting close without being seen and then sprinting for a few seconds. After a big meal the pride can go a couple of days without hunting at all.

A pride is a family of related lionesses, their cubs and one or two adult males who guard the territory and announce it with that famous roar. Cubs are born small and spotted, and they stay hidden for their first weeks while their mother feeds them milk. Lionesses in a pride often raise their cubs together, and a cub will happily nurse from an aunt. Young males leave the pride when they grow up and roam with brothers until they are strong enough to win a pride of their own. Lions are listed as vulnerable: there are far fewer than there were a century ago, mostly because their grasslands are turning into farms and towns.

Here is every lion fact from this page and the lion quiz in one list — handy for a school project or a car-ride quiz.

1. A lion's roar can be heard up to 5 miles (8 km) away.
2. Lionesses do most of the hunting — and they hunt as a team.
3. Lions rest or sleep up to 20 hours a day. Champion nappers!
4. A male lion's mane gets darker and fuller as he gets older and stronger.
5. Lion cubs are born with spots that slowly fade as they grow up.
6. After a big meal, a lion may not need to hunt again for days.
7. Hunting takes lots of energy, so lions nap in the shade between meals.
8. Protecting their savanna homes helps wild lions survive.

❓ Common questions about lions

No — lions are wild animals that belong in the wild, and keeping one would be unsafe and almost always illegal. But if lions are your favorite, here's the closest pet you actually can welcome home:

Meet the CatBecause a lion is just a giant, wild cousin of the house cat. See care guide →

More cool animals to explore