​LIONS
Mammal        -        Vertebrate         -       Carnivore
Picture
LION WITH CUB
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SOUTH AFRICAN WHITE LION
Male:  Lion
Female:  Lioness
Young:  Cub
LIONS
The Swahili word for lion, simba, also means 'king'.
  • Are the second largest big cat species in the world - second to tigers.
  • Can reach speeds of up to 50 miles per hour, in short bursts.
  • The roar of lion can be heard 5 miles away.
  • Live in prides.
  • Live around 12 years.
  • Say 'hello' to each other by rubbing their heads together.
  • Lionesses are better hunters and complete 90% of the hunting.
  • Lionesses in a pride are usually related - they are each other'smothers, daughters, grandmothers, and granddaughters.
  • Rest for about 20 hours a day.
  • Eat mice, lizards, tortoises, warthogs, wildebeests, zebras, buffaloes, young elephants, rhinos, hippos and giraffes.
  • Can go 4-5 days without water, if they have to.
  • When a male takes over a pride, he usually kills the cubs.
  • Lions cannot roar until they are 2 years old.
  • Male lions can sleep up to 20 hours a day.
  • The muzzle of a lion is like a fingerprint - no two lions have the same pattern of whiskers.
  • A Liger is the offspring of a lion and a tiger.
  • Lions in the wild usually make no more than 20 kills in a year.
  • There are more statues of lions in the world than there are real lions.
  • Can get hairballs the size of footballs.

​Mountain Lions
  • Mountain Lions are also known as Cougars, Catamounts, Puma, Screamer, Pantha.​
Picture
A LIGER
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LIONESS WITH CUB