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The lion (Panthera
leo)
is
a species in
the
family Felidae;
it
is
a
muscular,
deep-chested
cat
with
a
short,
rounded
head,
a
reduced
neck
and
round
ears,
and
a
hairy
tuft
at
the
end
of
its
tail.
It
is sexually
dimorphic;
adult
male
lions
have
a
prominent
mane,
which
is
the
most
recognisable
feature
of
the
species.
With
a
typical
head-to-body
length
of
184–208 cm
(72–82 in)
they
are
larger
than
females
at
160
–184 cm
(63–72 in).
It
is
a social
species,
forming
groups
called prides.
A
lion
pride
consists
of
a
few
adult
males,
related
females
and
cubs.
Groups
of
female
lions
usually
hunt
together,
preying
mostly
on
large ungulates.
The
lion
is
an apex and keystone
predator,
although
some
lions
scavenge
when
opportunities
occur,
and
have
been
known
to
hunt
humans,
although
the
species
typically
does
not.Typically,
the
lion
inhabits grasslands and savannas,
but
is
absent
in
dense forests.
It
is
usually
more diurnal than
other
big
cats,
but
when
persecuted
it
adapts
to
being
active at
night and at
twilight.
In
the Pleistocene,
the
lion
ranged
throughout
Eurasia,
Africa
and
North
America,
but
today
it
has
been
reduced
to
fragmented
populations
in Sub-Saharan
Africa and
one
critically
endangered
population
in
western
India.
It
has
been
listed
as Vulnerable on
the IUCN
Red
List since
1996
because
populations
in
African
countries
have
declined
by
about
43%
since
the
early
1990s.
Lion
populations
are
untenable
outside
designated
protected
areas.
Although
the
cause
of
the
decline
is
not
fully
understood, habitat
loss and
conflicts
with
humans
are
the
greatest
causes
for
concern.
One
of
the
most
widely
recognised
animal
symbols
in
human
culture,
the
lion
has
been
extensively
depicted
in
sculptures
and
paintings,
on
national
flags,
and
in
contemporary
films
and
literature.
Lions
have
been
kept
in menageries since
the
time
of
the Roman
Empire and
have
been
a
key
species
sought
for
exhibition
in zoological
gardens across
the
world
since
the
late
18th
century. Cultural
depictions
of
lions were
prominent
in
the Upper
Paleolithic period;
carvings
and
paintings
from
the Lascaux and Chauvet
Caves in
France
have
been
dated
to
17,000
years
ago,
and
depictions
have
occurred
in
virtually
all
ancient
and
medieval
cultures
that
coincided
with
the
lion's
former
and
current
ranges.
Typically,
the
lion
inhabits grassland
and savannas,
but
is
absent
in
dense forests.
It
is
usually
more diurnal than
other
big
cats,
but
when
persecuted
it
adapts
to
being
active at
night and at
twilight.
In
the Pleistocene,
the
lion
ranged
throughout
Eurasia,
Africa
and
North
America,
but
today
it
has
been
reduced
to
fragmented
populations
in Sub-Saharan
Africa and
one
critically
endangered
population
in
western
India.
It
has
been
listed
as Vulnerable on
the IUCN
Red
List since
1996
because
populations
in
African
countries
have
declined
by
about
43%
since
the
early
1990s.
Lion
populations
are
untenable
outside
designated
protected
areas.
Although
the
cause
of
the
decline
is
not
fully
understood, habitat
loss and
conflicts
with
humans
are
the
greatest
causes
for
concern.
One
of
the
most
widely
recognised
animal
symbols
in
human
culture,
the
lion
has
been
extensively
depicted
in
sculptures
and
paintings,
on
national
flags,
and
in
contemporary
films
and
literature.
Lions
have
been
kept
in menageries since
the
time
of
the Roman
Empire and
have
been
a
key
species
sought
for
exhibition
in zoological
gardens across
the
world
since
the
late
18th
century. Cultural
depictions
of
lions were
prominent
in
the Upper
Paleolithic period;
carvings
and
paintings
from
the Lascaux and Chauvet
Caves in
France
have
been
dated
to
17,000
years
ago,
and
depictions
have
occurred
in
virtually
all
ancient
and
medieval
cultures
that
coincided
with
the
lion's
former
and
current
ranges.
Typically,
the
lion
inhabits grasslands
and savannas,
but
is
absent
in
dense forests.
It
is
usually
more diurnal than
other
big
cats,
but
when
persecuted
it
adapts
to
being
active at
night and at
twilight.
In
the Pleistocene,
the
lion
ranged
throughout
Eurasia,
Africa
and
North
America,
but
today
it
has
been
reduced.