African lion

A social roarer

1. Adult male lions have shaggy manes that range in color from blonde to reddish-brown to black. The length and color of a male lion's mane are likely determined by age, genetics, and hormones.

2. If you looked at the body of a lion and a tiger without fur or skin, they would be so similar—apart from size—that only experts could tell them apart.

3. Lions are the world's most social big cats. They live in groups of related females, which can include more than 40 individuals.

4. When a lion eats, it doesn’t properly chew its food but swallows large chunks of meat at a time. In a single meal, a large lion can consume more than 50 kilograms—that’s roughly equivalent to 250 steaks from the butcher.