Lion

Scientific name: Panthera leo

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Tawny to golden coat; males feature a distinctive dark mane around the head and neck, varying from blonde to black. Males are substantially larger and heavier than females.

Size and weight

Males: 170–250 kg, 170–250 cm body length. Females: 130–180 kg, 160–200 cm body length.

Habitat

Lions inhabit open savannas, grasslands, and light woodland across sub-Saharan Africa. They prefer areas with adequate prey density and water sources, typically at elevations below 2,500 m.

Distribution

Sub-Saharan Africa from the Sahel to southern Africa, with isolated populations in West Africa and India. Favours savanna and open woodland; absent from dense forest.

Diet

Primary predator of large ungulates—zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, and antelope. Opportunistically takes smaller prey; scavenges when available.

Behaviour

Primarily nocturnal and crepuscular hunters; diurnal during cooler seasons. Highly social, living in prides of related females with associated males; males are largely sedentary within territory.

Hunting tips

Track fresh pugmarks in soft soil near water and kill sites; look for scat and claw marks on trees. Approach from downwind using terrain cover at dawn or dusk when lions are active. Stalk wounded or separated individuals from dense brush, moving slowly to close distance without detection.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 9 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.