| type | Status | Habitat |
 |
 |
 |
|
MAMMALS |
THREATENED |
AFRICA |
 These lions mainly stick to the grasslands, scrub, or open woodlands where they can more easily hunt their prey, but they can live in most habitats aside from tropical rainforests and deserts. |
 Lions prey on antelope, zebras, and other hoofed animals. |
|
Lions live in groups called prides. There can be from from 3 to 30 lions in a pride. A pride contains many females and their young, and a few males. The lionesses rule the pride, working together to hunt and raise the cubs. But the adult males play an important role as well. They guard the pride and protect its territory.
Lions need large territories to hunt successfully, and habitat loss is a problem facing lion populations. Lions are also viewed as a threat to livestock by ranchers. Ranchers may shoot lions or poison carcasses to keep them away from their livestock (lions will scavenge, making them easy targets for the poisoning method).
Lions have some behaviors that are like those of your cat at home. They are very good climbers and are often seen up in trees checking the area for prey. Lions sleep up to 21 hours a day, and researchers have seen them sleeping in some unusual positions-including on their backs with their paws in the air!