How heavy is an adult male African Lion?

An adult male African Lion weighs around 160 – 225 kg (350 – 500 lbs), with a body length of 2.4 – 2.9 m (including tail) and shoulder height around 1.0 – 1.2 m (100 – 120 cm).

What is the conservation status of the African Lion?

The African Lion is classified as Vulnerable, primarily found in Sub-Saharan Africa (Serengeti, Kruger, Maasai Mara).

What makes the African Lion distinct from tigers?

Male coalitions fight to the death to secure pride dominance, cultivating unmatched battle experience. Its cooperative pride social structure and protective male mane contrast with the tiger's strictly solitary ambush ecology.

African Lion

Panthera leo

The iconic social big cat of Africa, living in matriarchal prides supported by powerful coalition males, engineered for savanna cooperative hunting and territorial pride dominance.

Vulnerable IUCN Red List

“Courage, Pride, Sovereignty.”

MONARCH OF THE SAVANNA

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Region Sub-Saharan Africa

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Weight 160 – 225 kg Female: 110 – 150 kg

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Length 2.4 – 2.9 m (including tail)

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Habitat Open grasslands

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Diet Wildebeest, herd ungulates

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Lifespan 10 – 14 years (in the wild)

Appearance

Tawny yellow coat, muscular barrel chest, tufted tail, and golden to dark-brown male mane that signals age, vigor, and combat readiness.

Golden tawny coat designed for open grass camouflage

Majestic male mane protecting cervical arteries

Broad, muscular chest and elevated shoulder posture

Prominent black tail tuft used for pride communication

Behavior

Highly social, living in prides of up to 30 individuals. Males defend territories against rival coalitions while females coordinate perimeter encirclement hunting.

The only truly social feline in the animal kingdom

Complex pride structure with shared childcare and territory

Coordinated female pack hunting utilizing tactical flanking

Roars audible up to 8 kilometers (5 miles) away

SIZE

How big is an African Lion?

Male African lions are tall, heavy-chested predators standing up to 1.2 meters at the shoulder.

See Size in Detail

Front View

Side View

Male Weight 160 – 225 kg

Female Weight 110 – 150 kg

Body Length 2.4 – 2.9 m

Shoulder Height 1.0 – 1.2 m

1.8 m

~ 2.8 m

HABITAT

Where does it live?

African lions inhabit open savannas, grasslands, and acacia woodlands across Sub-Saharan Africa, including the Serengeti, Maasai Mara, and Okavango Delta.

View Habitat Notes

Current Range Possible Historic Range

“From golden grassland horizons to sun-baked acacia scrub.”

HUNTING & DIET

Pride Tactical Hunting

Lions utilize complex cooperative hunting tactics where agile lionesses encircle and flush prey into waiting ambushes, while heavy males help bring down dangerous game like Cape buffalo.

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Main prey: Blue wildebeest, zebra, Cape buffalo, giraffe

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Strategy: Cooperative perimeter encirclement

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Lethality: Tracheal clamp and suffocation hold

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Coalition: Male backup for massive, high-risk quarry

“In the pride lies strength. In the coalition lies supremacy.”

COMPARISON

How does the African Lion compare?

Compare the African Lion with other lion populations or tigers to see the differences in size, strength, speed, and more.