The Lion (Leo or Panthera) is a large, powerfully built cat of the family Felidae. The lion has earned its title of the King of Beasts by being, since early times, one of the best known wild animals. The lion is a well muscled cat with a long body, short legs, and a large head. It varies in size and appearance between sexes, a full grown male is about six to seven feet in length and weighs 370-500 lbs. whereas the female or lioness measures five feet in length and weighs approximately 265-390 lbs. The lion's coat is short and varies in color from buff yellow, orange brown or silvery gray to dark brown, with a tuft on the tail tip that is usually darker than the rest of the coat.

The lion cubs are able to follow their mothers around at three months old and are weaned at six months of age. They begin taking part in kills by eleven months but cannot survive on their own until they are two years old. In captivity, the lion has been induced to mate with other big cats.

Lionesses are more consistently tawny or sandy in color. The male's outstanding characteristic is his mane, which varies in different individuals. It usually fringes the face and is almost black which gives the lion a majestic appearance. Lions are unique among cats in that they live in a group, or pride. The pride consists of several generations of lionesses, their cubs and one or two adult male lions who defend the prides territory and mate with the females.

A pride may have as little as four and as many as 37 members, but about 15 is the average size. The lion is commonly used as a symbol of majesty and strength. The Swahili word for lion is simba. The offspring of a lion and a tigress is called a liger; that of a tiger and a lioness is called a tigon, that of a leopard and a lioness a leopard