Felis leo; Print; The lion (Panthera leo) is a species in the family Felidae; it is a muscular; deep-chested cat with a short; rounded head; a reduced neck and round ears; and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. It is sexually dimorphic; male lions have a prominent mane; which is the most recognisable feature of the species. With a typical head-to-body length of 184-208 cm (72-82 in) they are larger than females at 160-184 cm (63-72 in). It is a social species; forming groups called prides. A lion pride consists of a few adult males; related females and cubs. Groups of female lions usually hunt together; preying mostly on large ungulates. The lion is an apex and keystone predator; although some lions scavenge when opportunities occur and have been known to hunt humans; although the species typically does not.; anatomy