a type of carnivore mammalian species, one of the five members of the genus panther

LEO

Leo (lat. Panthera leo) — a type of carnivore mammalian species, one of the five members of the genus panther (Panthera) related to subfamily big cats as part of the family cat's eyes. Along with the tiger — the largest living cat, the weight of some males can reach 250 kg^[2]. It is difficult to say for certain whether the largest subspecies of the lion are more massive than the largest subspecies of the tiger. This is due to the fact that the known very large masses amur tigers most of them are considered insufficiently reliable^[3]. Sufficient data on the size and mass of representatives of the largest lion subspecies (for example, barbary) science does not have. As for captive animals, they are often a mixture of different subspecies. There is an opinion that lions in captivity slightly exceed tigers in size and weight^[4], as well as the inverse of it.

Historical area the lion was much wider than the modern one: back in Early Middle Ages the lion was found all over the territory Africa in addition to deserts and rainforests, it could also be seen on Middle East, In Iran and even in a number of places in the south Europe (for example, he lived in part of the territory of the modern southern Russia rising to about the 45th north parallel). In Northern and Northwestern India, the lion was a common predator. However, human persecution and habitat destruction have resulted in the lion remaining only in sub-Saharan Africa, and its range is now severely reduced. In Asia population exists in Gir Forest (in an Indian state Gujarat).
Before the late Pleistocene about 10,000 years ago, lions were the most widely distributed large mammals on Earth after humans^[5]. Their fossils are found in most of Africa, on the territory of Eurasia from Western Europe India and in North America The Yukon Peru^[6]. Famous for rock paintings in Europe cave lion It was apparently a subspecies of the modern lion.
The lion's appearance is very peculiar. This is one of the few predators with a pronounced sexual dimorphism. Males are not only much larger than females, but also have a mane, which in some subspecies reaches a large development and covers the shoulders, part of the back and chest. The lion's color is yellow-gray with various shades, the mane is often the same color as the skin, but it can be dark, even black. Lion subspecies are determined largely by the color of the mane. With the exception of the mane, the animal's body hair is short, only at the end of the tail there is a brush of long hair.
Lions inhabit mainly savannas, but sometimes they can move to shrubland or forest. Unlike other cats, they do not live alone, but in special family groups — prides. A pride usually consists of related females, offspring, and a few adult males. Females hunt together, mostly on large ungulates. Lions do not hunt humans purposefully, but cannibalism is very common. Lions are super — predators, meaning they occupy the top position in the food chain.
In nature, lions live from ten to fourteen years, in captivity they can live longer than twenty years. Males, as a rule, rarely live more than ten years. This is because fights with other lions greatly reduce their life expectancy^[7].
Lions are considered a vulnerable species due to the irreversible decline in their population. During the period from 1959 to 1979, the number of lions in Africa decreased by 30-50 %^[8]. Populations are particularly vulnerable outside protected areas. The reason for the decline in the population is not fully understood, but the greatest threats are habitat loss and conflicts with humans. Lions have been kept in menageries since the Roman Empire. Zoos around the world are collaborating on a breeding program for the endangered Asian subspecies. The image of a lion is often reflected in human culture. Images of these animals have been known since the Paleolithic period, as evidenced by rock carvings in the Lascaux and Chauvet caves. Lions were popular in culture in ancient times and in the Middle Ages, they found their reflection in sculpture, painting, on national flags, coats of arms, in myths, literature and films.