Lion Facts Quiz

• Lions live in Africa, mostly.

• Male lions look different from females and stand 1.2 meters tall and have a 3.3-meter body length. Females are 1.1 meters tall and have a body length of about 2.4 meters.

• Lions can eat 40kg of meat at once.

• Lions are carnivores and feed on land-dwelling mammals like zebras, antelopes, and wild hogs.

• Lions live in groups called prides and the average number of members in a pride is around 15.

• Lions appear to be social animals and have a strong bond with their pride.

• Lions are the laziest of all the big cats. They spend 21 to 22 hours a day sleeping, resting, and just sitting around. That leaves them with about 2 to 3 hours of daily hunting time.

• Lions have a defined territory that they defend. The area ranges from 20 to 400 square km, and they mark it out by roaring and scent from urine and feces.

• Lions usually hunt at night but also take advantage of storms to hunt. The noise and poor visibility allow them to stealthily approach prey without spooking their dinner.

• When busy being lazy, lions are affectionate to other pride members, often rubbing heads and grooming.

• Lions live between 8-25 years in the wild. Many factors contribute to the short life expectancy in the wild but female lions have a better chance at a long life than males. That’s because the young males often get kicked out of the pride around the age of three.

• There are regular fatal fights to defend the lion’s position in the pride. Adult male lions also commit infanticide when they take over a new pride. Often, when a new dominant male joins a pride, he kills off all the cubs to start a new family carrying his genes only.

• Lions have a big mouth, not because they talk or roar too much. But because they can spread their jaws up to 28 cm wide, that is almost a foot. Their large mouth houses three types of teeth; incisors, canines, and carnassials.

• A mountain lion isn’t really a lion. The big cat known as the mountain lion is a new species that evolved from the lion.

• Lions are the largest land-based predator in the world.

• Lions are polygamous and breed once a year.

• Female lions are the primary hunters in a pride.

• Lions don't make the best parents and are negligent with their cubs.

• Lions are nomadic and may wander for life.

• The lion population has been steadily decreasing for over three decades now.

• The lion is the favorite animal of many people and cultures, but their numbers are dwindling.

• Lions are vulnerable to human encroachment, and their habitat is being lost.

• You can help save lions by refusing to participate in hunts and activities that contribute to habitat loss, and by giving to charities that are working to protect these animals.

Test your knowledge about the fascinating world of lions with this quiz. Learn about their behavior, hunting habits, social structure, and ways to help protect them. See how much you know about the king of the jungle!