Cape chimaera vs Lion

Chimaera notafricana compared with Panthera leo

Key Differences

• Cape chimaera is Least Concern while Lion is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cape chimaera	Lion
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Holocephali (Holocephali)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Chimaeriformes (Chimaeriformes)	Carnivora (Carnivorans)
Family	Chimaeridae	Felidae (Cats)
Genus	Chimaera	Panthera (Big Cats)
Species	Chimaera notafricana	Panthera leo

Evolutionary Relationship

Cape chimaera and Lion share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Cape chimaera

LC — Least Concern

Lion

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~23.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cape chimaera	Lion
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	15 years
Average Length	—	2.5 m
Average Weight	—	190.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Cape chimaera

Lion

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 7 distinct biome types spanning the Afrotropic and Neotropic and Oceanian realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, and Kenya. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Cape chimaera

The Cape chimaera (Chimaera notafricana) is a species in the genus Chimaera. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Lion

The largest wild cat in Africa, lions reach up to 250 kg and are the only social felids, living in prides across sub-Saharan savannas and grasslands. Males are distinguished by their iconic manes. As apex predators, they regulate herbivore populations and maintain ecosystem balance. Listed as Vulnerable due to habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict.