Lions are the second-largest living cat species, with males weighing up to 570 pounds. They are the only truly social cats, living in groups called prides that can include up to 30 individuals.

A lion's roar can be heard from five miles away and serves to communicate with pride members and warn rivals. Male lions are distinguished by their iconic manes, which darken with age and indicate health and dominance status.

Lions spend most of their day resting, often sleeping 16 to 20 hours daily. Females do most of the hunting, working together in coordinated groups to take down prey like zebras, wildebeest, and antelopes.

In the wild, lions inhabit African savannas and grasslands, with a small population in India's Gir Forest. They typically live 10 to 14 years in the wild, though they can reach their early 20s in captivity.