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Where did Lion
Come From? |
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The lion (Panthera leo) is a member of the family Felidae
and one of four big cats in the genus Panthera. With
exceptionally large males exceeding 250 kg (550 lb) in
weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the
tiger. Wild lions currently exist in sub-Saharan Africa
and in Asia with a critically endangered remnant
population in northwest India, having disappeared from
North Africa, the Middle East and western Asia in historic
times. Until the late Pleistocene (about 10,000 years
ago), the lion was the most widespread large land mammal
beside humans. They were found in most of Africa, much of
Eurasia from western Europe to India and, in the Americas,
from the Yukon to Peru. |
Should they survive the rigors of cubhood, lionesses in secure
habitat such as Kruger National Park may frequently reach an
age of 12–14 years whereas lions seldom live for longer than 8
years. However, there are records of lionesses living for up
to 20 years in the wild. In captivity both male and female
lions can live for over 20 years. They typically inhabit
savanna and grassland, although they may take to bush and
forest. Lions are unusually social compared to other cats. A
pride of lions consists of related females and offspring and a
small number of adult males. Groups of female lions typically
hunt together, preying mostly on large ungulates. The lion is
an apex and keystone predator, although they will resort to
scavenging if the opportunity arises. While lions, in general,
do not selectively hunt humans, some have been known to become
man-eaters and seek human prey.
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