Class: MAMMALIA

Order: CARNIVORA

Family: FELIDAE

Genus: PANTHERA

Species: LEO

The second-largest, behind the tiger, of the cats, and the largest predatory mammal of the African continent. Historically, the lion has been found throughout much of Africa, the middle East, as well as Asia Minor, as well as perhaps more north Europe. Today, lion populations are much fragmented, with 'dotted' populations in Africa, as well as some reserves of the Gir Forest in India. Traditionally, lions have been divided into some eleven sub-species - nine of these of the African continent - the North-East Congo Lion [P. l. azandica], Katanga Lion [P. l. bleyenberghi], South African Lion [P. l. krugeri], Nubian Lion [P. l. nubia], West African Lion [P. l. senegalensis], Barbary Lion [P. l. leo], and Cape Lion [P. l. melanochaita], the latter two of which were presumed extinct by the late 20th century, as well as two sub-species of Asiatic Lion - the extant Asiatic Lion [P. l. persica] and extinct Sri Lanka Lion [P. l. sinhaleyus]. More modern classification recognises only two of such - molecular study of lions indicates only two sub-species, the Northern Lion [P. l. leo], found in Northern Africa and the Gir Forest], as well as the Southern Lion [P. l. melanochaita], found in Southern Africa. Populations of lion differ in morphology, albeit to a lesser extent than the two recognised sub-species.