Lions are large, carnivorous mammals that are part of the Felidae family. They are commonly found in Africa, although a small population of Asiatic lions is also found in India. Lions are famous for their distinctive manes, which are typically found only on males and vary in color and size depending on the subspecies.
They are social animals that live in prides consisting of several females, their cubs, and a small number of males. Lions are apex predators and feed primarily on large herbivores such as zebras, wildebeests, and gazelles.
While once widespread throughout much of Africa and parts of Asia and Europe, lions are now primarily found in protected areas due to habitat loss, poaching, and other threats to their survival.
There is only one extant species of lion, which is Panthera leo. However, there are several subspecies of lions that are recognized based on differences in their physical characteristics and geographic range. These subspecies include:
* Panthera leo leo (African lion)
* Panthera leo persica (Asiatic lion)
* Panthera leo azandica (North African lion)
* Panthera leo melanochaita (Southwest African lion)
* Panthera leo nubica (East African lion)
* Panthera leo senegalensis (West African lion)
Note that the classification of lion subspecies is a subject of ongoing research and debate, and some experts recognize different subspecies or group them differently.
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