10 Types of Lions (Including 4 Extinct Species)

1. Southern African Lion (Panthera leo melanochaita)

Often referred to as the Transvaal lion or southeast African lion, this group is common in national parks like Kruger in South Africa and Chobe in northern Botswana.

Southern lions tend to be large, with males weighing up to 250 kilograms (550 pounds). They are among the most-studied wild lions due to their high visibility in popular safari destinations.

White Lions

White lions are not a separate species or subspecies, but a rare color morph of the southern African lion. Caused by a recessive gene, these lions are occasionally seen in the wild in areas like the Timbavati region of South Africa. Breeding programs have helped sustain their population in captivity.

2. Katanga Lion (Panthera leo bleyenberghi)

Hailing from southwestern Africa, particularly Angola and parts of Namibia, Katanga lions are known for their lighter manes and large size. They are considered part of the southern lion group and have adapted to drier conditions near the Kalahari Desert.

3. West African Lion (Panthera leo senegalensis)

This rare and critically endangered subspecies is found in a few protected areas in West Africa. The West African lion is smaller and more lightly built than southern or eastern lions.

Their habitat includes dense forests and open savannas, but population numbers have dropped dramatically due to habitat loss and poaching.

4. East African Lion (Panthera leo nubica)

Native to regions like Kenya and Tanzania, the East African lion is known for its athletic build and relatively modest mane. These lions primarily inhabit savannas and open woodlands.

Panthera leo nubica is often distinguished by slight genetic and morphological differences from other lion populations outside East Africa, and some taxonomies recognize it as a distinct subspecies.

5. Ethiopian Lion (Panthera leo roosevelti)

Sometimes considered a unique subspecies, the Ethiopian lion is native to Central Africa and known for its dark, full mane. Found primarily in the highlands of Ethiopia, this lion population is small and vulnerable, with conservationists pushing for more focused breeding programs.

Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica)

Also known as the Indian lion, the Asiatic lion is a critically endangered subspecies found only in the Gir National Park of western India.

Panthera leo persica lions have a shorter, sparser mane than their African counterparts and a distinct fold of skin along their bellies. Once roaming across southwest Asia and the Middle East, only a small population remains today.

1. Barbary Lion (Panthera leo leo)

Once roaming the forests and mountains of North Africa, the Barbary lion was a formidable predator and used as a spectacle in Ancient Rome. This northern lion subspecies is now extinct in the wild, though a few descendants survive in captivity.

Barbary lions were known for their large size and impressively thick manes that extended down the chest and belly.

2. Cape Lion

Thought to be extinct, the Cape lion once roamed the southern tip of Africa. It was distinguished by its black mane and massive size. Some lion conservation groups speculate that descendants may live on through interbreeding in captivity.

3. Cave Lion (Panthera spelaea)

This prehistoric lion species lived during the Ice Age and is known from cave paintings and fossil remains across Europe and Asia. Cave lions were larger than modern lions and likely hunted large game.

They are not considered a direct ancestor of today’s lion populations but offer a peek into the evolutionary history of the Panthera genus.

4. American Lion (Panthera atrox)

One of the largest lion species to ever live, the American lion roamed North America during the Pleistocene epoch. It is now extinct but was closely related to the cave lion. Males may have weighed over 350 kilograms (770 pounds). Their range once stretched from Alaska to Peru.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.