African Lion Facts - Panthero Leo Krugeri

Lions are nicknamed the King of the Jungle. Lions live in the grassy plains, savannas, open woodlands and scrub country. Unlike other big cats the lion does not have a patterned coat. Lion’s have tawny coats and tufts at the ends of their tails. A lion’s tan coloring allow them to blend with the grass of the African plains. Male lions have hairy manes that frame their face.

Male Lions are 4 feet tall and are 5-8 feet in length. Male lions are 330-500 lbs, females are smaller.The top speed of a lion over a short distance is 50 mph.

Lions are territorial creatures. A lion’s roar can be heard over 5 miles away. Lions live in groups also known as prides with up to 15 lions. A lion’s pride usually has a single male and related females with their young. A typical litter of lion cubs is 3-4. Lion cubs begin hunting at 11 months but may stay with their mother for 2 years. Lion cubs are born with spots but they lose the spots as they get older.

Female lions do almost all the hunting, hunting primarily at night and in teams. Lions prey on zebra, giraffes, buffalo, hogs, and smaller animals. Lions are even known to attack elephants when in need of food.

The average lifespan of a lion in the wild is 10-14 years.

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Jacob Maddox manages content for Wildlife Animals http://www.wildlife-animals.com an educational wildlife and animal website. Jacob also guest writes for Dog Pound http://www.dog-pound.net