Lion vs. Panther

By Jaxson

  • Lion

    The lion (Panthera leo) is a species in the family Felidae; it is a muscular, deep-chested cat with a short, rounded head, a reduced neck and round ears, and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. The lion is sexually dimorphic; males are larger than females with a typical weight range of 150 to 250 kg (330 to 550 lb) for the former and 120 to 182 kg (265 to 400 lb) for the latter. Male lions have a prominent mane, which is the most recognisable feature of the species. A lion pride consists of a few adult males, related females and cubs. Groups of female lions typically hunt together, preying mostly on large ungulates. The species is an apex and keystone predator, although they scavenge when opportunities occur. Some lions have been known to hunt humans, although the species typically does not.

    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 the Americas from the Yukon to Peru 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.

    One of the most widely recognised 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.

Wikipedia
  • Lion (noun)

    A big cat, Panthera leo, native to Africa, India and formerly to much of Europe. The term may apply to the species as a whole, to individuals, or to male individuals. It also applies to related species like mountain lions.

    “Tigers and lions share a common ancestor from a few million years ago.”

  • Lion (noun)

    A stylized representation of a large cat, used on a coat of arms.

  • Lion (noun)

    A Chinese foo dog.

  • Lion (noun)

    An individual who shows strength and courage, attributes associated with the lion.

  • Lion (noun)

    A famous person regarded with interest and curiosity.

  • Lion (noun)

    A light brown color that resembles the fur of a lion.

    “color panel|C19A6B”

  • Lion (noun)

    An old Scottish coin, with a lion on the obverse, worth 74 shillings.

  • Lion (adjective)

    Of the light brown color that resembles the fur of a lion.

  • Panther (noun)

    Any of various big cats with black fur; most especially, the black-coated leopard of India.

  • Panther (noun)

    Any big cat of the genus Panthera.

  • Panther (noun)

    A cougar; especially the Florida panther.

Wiktionary

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