SIZES
Length: Adult Males nose to tail approximately 9 feet.The female is smaller.
Weight: Males from 350-550 pounds and femalessmaller at 250-300 pounds.

BREEDING
Sexual Maturity: 3 to 4 years
Mating: Non-seasonal
Gestation: 92 days
No. of Young: 1-5 cubs

LIFESTYLE
Habit: Companionable.  Live in prides.
Diet: Deer, antelope, zebra and other hoofed animals.
Lifespan: Up to 20 years in the wild, 25 in captivity.

RANGE: Every pride stays within a specific territory, where food and water are plentiful year round. Covering 15 square miles (39 square kilometers). When prey is scarce, lion prides will travel 100 square miles (260 square kilometers).
ENDANGERED: Only the Asiatic lion from India's Gir Forest are endangered with less then 200. The African lion is plentiful - a survival rate is greatened since the inception of African wildlife preserves where lions are not to be hunted. A lion will avoid contact with humans unless tormented or sick. When provoked, this is a terrible foe to man. Mortality is high of lion cubs. Up to 80 percent die before 2 years of age.

Lions belong to the class of Mammalia and an order of Carnivora. This cat is a known symbol for beauty and power, "The King of Beasts". The mane of the male lion makes his appearance larger than he really is. This mane gives him protection during battles with other male lions or predators. The mane is not fully grown until 5 years of life. They are colored blonde, brown and black, usually darkening with growth.

Lions colors are ideal for hiding within the shrubs. A brownish-yellowish color, having the back of the ears and the tuft of the tail black. At birth, cubs have spots, fading as they mature.

The strength of the lion comes from the shoulder. Every paw having detectable claws that are razor sharp. A lion has 30 teeth. Four large pointed teeth called canines, are used to hold its prey, kill it and tear it apart. Four cheek teeth called Carnassial teeth are for cutting through tough skin and tendons that join muscle to bone. They have no teeth suitable for chewing, thus the lion will swallow its food in chunks.

The pride may consist of up to 35 cats. Having anywhere from 1-5 males, several lionesses and their cubs. A pride may separate for periods to hunt and live, reuniting by rubbing cheeks. Prides stay together for years, but male cubs are chased away by their fathers within 2-3 years. Returning to the territory when full grown, challenging other males for dominance of the territory and the lionesses. They rest for usually 20 hours per day.

This animal lives a life of feast and famine. Eats usually every 3-4 days but sometimes going without food for weeks. A male will eat up to 75 pounds of meat in a meal. Catching food is difficult for the lion as most animals are faster then the lion with a top speed of 35 miles per hour. The lion surpnses its prey by stalking to within 50 feet and springing out of the bush, going for the throat for strangulation. They hunt at dark.