{"id":4548,"date":"2021-04-09T22:55:17","date_gmt":"2021-04-09T22:55:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/?p=4548"},"modified":"2021-05-07T17:13:25","modified_gmt":"2021-05-07T17:13:25","slug":"how-many-subspecies-of-lion-are-there","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturefaq.com\/how-many-subspecies-of-lion-are-there\/","title":{"rendered":"How many subspecies of Lion are there?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Question: How many subspecies of Lion are there? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are two subspecies of Lion.<\/strong> The history of Lion’s classification has gone through many changes since we started to classify animals, which has confused many people trying to figure out where each lion belongs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are two separate subspecies at the time of writing, according to the Cat Classification Task Force of the IUCN Cat Specialist Group in 2017. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Let break down each of the subspecies and see how they relate to one another. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We will discover:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Lions were once classified differently from today, Asian Lions and African Lions believed to be two main types of Lion. African Lions were thought to be one of several subspecies, and Asian Lions were a single subspecies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The two Subspecies are Panthera Leo Leo <\/strong>and Panthera Leo Melanochaita.<\/strong> But what is the difference? Let’s find out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This subspecies of Lion, classified by the IUCN Cat Specialist Group<\/a>, is made up of Lions that populations live in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being genetically close to one another, they form a distinct Clade<\/a> from the Lion populations residing in the south and east. This Clade is then split into three subclades<\/a>. The Clade from Asia includes the Barbary Lion (extinct).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Known as the North African Lion, they previously inhabited Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria. Currently extinct in the wild due to Human activity, the last know Lion to exist in the wild was sadly killed in 1920, Morocco. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some Lions, believed to be descended from these majestic lions, are held in Zoos worldwide. These cannot be 100% confirmed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Otherwise known as the Senegal Lion, the West African Lion is critically engaged in the wild. Inhabiting the region of Western Africa, Central African Republic and Senegal, only around 1,800 individuals remain. Their populations being too fragmented. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once widespread around Asia, the population is confined to the Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary; these Lions are considered Endangered by the IUCN. Only around 523 individuals remain, a number that is sadly far too low. <\/p>\n\n\n\nLet’s learn about Lions subspecies<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>The Two Subspecies<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Panthera Leo Leo:<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Panthera Leo Leo includes: <\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Barbary Lion: <\/em><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
West African Lion:<\/em><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Asiatic Lion:<\/em><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Panthera Leo Melanochaita: <\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n