The Lion (Panthera leo) is a species in the family Felidae and a member of the genus Panthera. It has a muscular, deep-chested body, short, rounded head, round ears, and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. It is sexually dimorphic; adult male lions have a prominent mane. With a typical head-to-body length of 72–82 in they are larger than females at 63–72 in. The lion is also the 2nd-largest species of cat (after the tiger); male lions weigh 330 to 550 pounds, while the smaller lionesses weigh 265 to 400 pounds. It is a social species, forming groups called "prides". A lion pride consists of a few adult males, related females, and cubs.
A crepuscular species, lions will sleep 18 to 20 hours a day. A male lion will patrol his pride's territory, which can cover at least 40 miles. Sometimes, any rogue lions who come across another lion pride and try to take it over will mostly kill the pride's cubs. Groups of female lions usually hunt together in order to take down prey. If the prey is larger or stronger, the male will help the lionesses subdue the prey. If the hunt is a success, the lionesses usually share their kill with the entire pride. However, a hierarchy determines which pride member gets to eat first; the males eat first, followed by the lionesses and the cubs, who get the leftovers. A lion's diet consists of medium to large-sized ungulates such as zebras, kudu, wildebeest, impala, hippos, and giraffes, but other prey may be eaten as well, including crocodiles, snakes, and tortoises. The lion is an apex predator and keystone species, although lions may scavenge when opportunities occur.
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. Climate change, removal from their habitats for entertainment and poaching to satisfy the traditional medicine industry are other contributing factors to decline in wild lion populations. Shrinking of prey base linked to massive hunting has also increased their risk of death by starvation.
One of the most widely recognized 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.