Lions (scientific name: *Panthera leo*) are mainly divided into two categories: the northern lion (*Panthera leo leo*) and the southern lion (*Panthera leo melanochaita*). These two categories encompass lion prides previously classified into as many as 15 subspecies; the latest classification simplifies this to these two subspecies. As large African cats, lions are renowned for their yellowish fur and the mane of the male lion.
Northern Lion (Panthera leo leo)
Northern lions are mainly distributed in West and Central Africa, as well as the only surviving lion population in Asia—the Indian Gir forest lion. This group includes the following subspecies:
Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) : Widely distributed from Iraq to India in the 19th century, it now exists only in Gir National Park, India. It is the only lion living outside of Africa. It is slightly smaller in size and has a smaller population.
West African lion (Panthera leo senegalensis) : Distributed in the tropical rainforests of Central Africa, its numbers have declined due to habitat loss.
Kamptzi Lion (Panthera leo kamptzi) : Photographed on the upper reaches of the Sanga River in Cameroon.
Northwest Congo Lion (Panthera leo azandica) : Some scholars distinguish it from the Nubian Lion (P. l. nubica), and it mainly inhabits Uganda and northwestern Congo.
Southern Lion (Panthera leo melanochaita)
Southern lions are found in eastern and southern Africa and include several subspecies:
Somali lion (Panthera leo somaliensis) : identified only by a few specimens from Somalia.
Masai lion (Panthera leo massaica) : Distributed in several East African countries, its habitat is the famous Masai Mara National Reserve. The length and density of the male's mane vary with age and altitude.
Nubian lion (Panthera leo nubica) : Sometimes merged with the Masai lion, it lives in northeastern Africa. The famous MGM lion logo belongs to this subspecies.
Panthera leo bleyenberghi : Found in Angola, southern Congo, and Zambia.
Transwal lion (Panthera leo krugeri) : It can reach 2.7 to 3 meters in length and lives in South Africa and its surrounding areas.
Kalahari lion (Panthera leo vernayi) : Now mainly inhabits nature reserves in the Kalahari and surrounding areas.
endangered and extinct lions
The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) is one of the most endangered subspecies, with only about 600 individuals remaining in the wild.
The number of lions in West Africa is small and they are severely threatened by habitat loss.
Extinct lion species include the European lion (historical records are unclear), the Atlas lion (now only in captivity), the cougar (Panthera atrox, a large, maneless lion), the cave lion (Panthera spelaea), and prehistoric lions.
Lion Trivia
In a lion pride, the lionesses are responsible for hunting, while the male lions usually guard the territory.
The color and density of a lion's mane are a symbol of its health and reproductive ability, with darker, denser manes being more favored by lionesses.
Lions are the only cat species that are highly social and live in groups.
They sleep 15 to 20 hours a day, and sleep even longer after catching large prey.
