Mammals
Lioness
Panthera leo
The lioness is the true engine of the pride: without a mane, more agile and faster than the male, she leads most of the hunts and cares for the cubs. Within the pride the females are all related and cooperate closely.
In short
The lioness (Panthera leo) is a species with IUCN conservation status VU (Vulnerable). Like the lion, it lives in savanna and grassland. Animals in Black offers a fine-art portrait of it on a black background, available as a print on Hahnemühle paper: request the print.
Habitat & conservation
Where does the lioness live?
Like the lion, it lives in savanna and grassland. Lionesses hunt as a team with coordinated tactics, encircling prey; they raise cubs communally and will even nurse young that are not their own.
Is the lioness endangered?
It shares the species' status: the IUCN Red List rates the lion Vulnerable (VU) with a declining population, due to habitat and prey loss, conflict with herders and poaching.
Facts about the lioness
- It leads most of the pride's hunts.
- The females of a pride are all related.
- It will nurse the cubs of other females in the pride.
Data source: IUCN Red List — Panthera leo (Vulnerable)
RED List
Conservation status codes
- EX Extinct No individuals survive.
- EW Extinct in the wild Survives only in captivity.
- CR Critically endangered Extremely high risk of extinction.
- EN Endangered Very high risk of extinction.
- VU Vulnerable High risk of extinction.
- NT Near threatened Likely to become threatened soon.
- LC Least concern Low risk of extinction.
- DD Data deficient Not enough data to assess.
- NE Not evaluated Not yet assessed by the IUCN.