Lion. Class Mammalia Order Carnivora Family Felidae Genus Panthera Species leo Names male: lion female: lioness young: cub group

Lion. Class Mammalia Order Carnivora Family Felidae Genus Panthera Species leo Names male: lion female: lioness young: cub group of females and their cubs: pride group of males: coalition Conservation Threatened by human activities such as habitat destruction and hunting. Concerns Range Africa and India. Habitat Grasslands, savannas, and woodlands. Size Length: Males reach 1.7 to 2.5 m (5.6 to 8.2 ft) in length; females reach 1.4 to 1.8 m (4.6 to 5.9 ft) in length. Weight: Males weigh 150 to 250 kg (330 to 550 lb); females weigh 120 to 182 kg (265 to 400 lb). Feeding Habits Lions are carnivores; they mainly eat wildebeest, impala, antelope, giraffe, and zebra. Offspring Female lions typically give birth to one to four cubs after a gestation period of about 110 days. The mother lion cares for her cubs for up to two years. Life Span In the wild, about 12 years for males and 16 years for females. Did You Know Male lions are driven out of their pride by the time they are four years old. Lions can run as fast as 60 km/h (37 mph). A lion's roar can be heard from a distance of 8 km (5 mi). Lions can leap distances of up to 12 m (36 ft). Lions spend about 20 hours a day just lying around. Female lions never have manes. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.