Lion vs Stinking iris

Panthera leo compared with Iris foetidissima

Key Differences

Lion is Vulnerable while Stinking iris is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Lion	Stinking iris
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Carnivora (Carnivorans)	Mantodea (Mantodea)
Family	Felidae (Cats)	Eremiaphilidae
Genus	Panthera (Big Cats)	Iris
Species	Panthera leo	Iris foetidissima

Evolutionary Relationship

Lion and Stinking iris share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

View Kingdom: Animalia

Conservation Status

Lion

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~23.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Stinking iris

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Lion	Stinking iris
Diet	Carnivore	—
Average Lifespan	15 years	—
Average Length	2.5 m	—
Average Weight	190.0 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

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.

Stinking iris

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (8 countries), North America (Canada, United States), and Oceania and the Pacific (Australia, New Zealand).

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.