Known as “the king of beasts,” African lions are the largest of the African carnivores. Their habitat includes the grasslands and semi-arid plains of sub-Saharan Africa. Lions play an important role in keeping herbivore populations in balance with the plant and water resources available.

The only truly social member of the cat family, lions live for the most part in groups called prides. A typical pride may be made up of five or six adult females, two to four adult males, several juveniles and cubs. While females in a pride usually remain together for life, adolescent males are forced to leave as soon as their fathers consider them potential rivals. The young males will spend two or three years as nomads until they mature, then begin seeking a pride to take over.

Females do most of the hunting, relying on stealth, cunning and teamwork rather than speed. Although males do hunt, they are not as fast as females and their bushy manes tend to make them conspicuous. Their main job is to guard the pride’s territory. Usually hunting at night, lions spend up to 21 hours a day sleeping and resting. Even though lions are reputed to be great hunters, many hunts end in failure. Sometimes lions even steal food from other predators, particularly hyenas whose excited whoops and hollers let lions know for miles around that food is available.

Male lions do not reach maturity until about five years of age. Their distinctive manes begin to develop at about three years of age. A mature male can weigh up to 550 lbs and measure four feet high at the shoulder. Females reach maturity at about four years of age and bear two to four young every two years. Lionesses within a pride frequently enter breeding season together and later give birth at the same time, allowing them to share nursing and other maternal duties.

Text © 1996 Dianne Harrah, Drawing © 1996 Bill Harrah

African Lion
#LE-LYN-500
Limited Edition Print
Issue Date: 03/2002
Edition Size: 500
Image: 6.5” x 8.25”
Paper: 8.5” x 11”
Mat: 11” x 14”
$35.
View matted print

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Information Accuracy
The information for the written description of each animal has been carefully researched by the authors and is believed to be accurate. New scientific observations, however, could make some information out-of-date. If you are a professional zoologist, and have new information that you are willing to share, please contact Dianne Harrah .