Lion

:"Lions" redirects here. For the album by the Black Crowes, see Lions (album).

Overview

Despite its popular moniker of "King of the Jungle", the lion is an animal of the open plains, and can be found on the savannas of much of Sub-Saharan Africa. It is nevertheless a threatened species with significant populations being limited to national parks in Tanzania and South Africa.

Related Topics:
Jungle - Plain - Savanna - Sub-Saharan Africa - Tanzania - South Africa

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The last remnant of the Asiatic Lion (subspecies Panthera leo persica), which in historical times ranged from Greece to India through Persia, lives in the Gir Forest of northwestern India. About 300 lions live in a 1412 km² (558 square miles) sanctuary in the state of Gujarat.

Related Topics:
Asiatic Lion - Greece - India - Persia - Gir Forest - Square mile - Gujarat

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Lions had become extinct in Greece, their last European outpost, by 100 AD, but they survived in considerable numbers in the Middle East and North Africa until the early 20th century. The lions that used to live in North Africa, called Barbary lions, tended to be larger than the sub-Saharan ones, and the males had more extensive manes. They are thought to have been a subspecies of lion (Panthera leo leo), although this has not been confirmed. Other extinct subspecies are the Cape Lion, the European Cave Lion (subspecies Panthera leo spelaea) which coexisted with humans throughout the last Ice Age, and the American lion (subspecies Panthera leo atrox), a close relative of the European cave lion (not to be confused with the mountain lion or puma).

Related Topics:
100 AD - Middle East - Africa - 20th century - Barbary lion - Cape Lion - European Cave Lion - Ice Age - American lion - Puma

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Lions are recurring symbols in the coat of arms of royalty and chivalry, particularly in the UK, where the lion is also a national symbol of the British people. Lions appear in the art of China, even though lions have never lived in China. No animal has been given more attention in art and literature. C.A.W. Guggisberg, in his book Simba, says the lion is referred to 130 times in the Bible. The lion can be found in stone age cave paintings.

Related Topics:
Coat of arms - Royalty - Chivalry - UK - Animal - Art - Literature - C.A.W. Guggisberg - Bible - Stone age - Cave painting

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Although they are not often heard of due to their rarity, white lions do exist, in Timbavati, South Africa. There is a recessive gene in white lions that gives them their unusual color (also causing white tigers, many white tigers with this gene are bred for zoos and animal shows). A white lion has a disadvantage when it comes to hunting; their white color can give away their hiding place.

Related Topics:
White lions - South Africa - Recessive gene

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