Panthera leo nubica

(de Blainville, 1843)

Vernacular names
English : East African lion, Nubian lion, Masai lion
French : Lion de Nubie, Lion d’Afrique de l’Est

Classification
Class : Mammalia
Order : Carnivora
Family : Felidae
Notes : 7 other subspecies known. A revision recognizes only two subspecies of lions and this one would now be P. l. melanochaita if accepted. So far, we choose to follow the older classification. Subspecies somaliensis, massaica, roosevelti and webbiensis are treated as synonyms.

Identification
Body length of 250 cm, shoulder height of 123 cm, weight of 272 kg. Unmistakable. Males have a dark mane covering head, shoulders and belly. Females are smaller. This subspecies is clearer than its north and west African counterparts with a very big and relatively clear mane.

Range and habitat
This subspecies occurs in most of north-east and eastern Africa down to South Africa. The species occurs throughout Africa and as an isolated population in India. Lives in dry open woodlands, grasslands, savannas and scrubland, up to 4000 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : VULNERABLE
CITES : Appendix II
Status : The species is now mostly restricted to protected areas. Some subspecies are extinct or highly endangered (in Asia). Alien diseases are a threat too.
Ex-Situ Programs : SSP in America, EEP in Europe

Observation

 

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