Menschenhai vs Afrikanischer Löwe

Carcharodon carcharias compared with Panthera leo

Key Differences

• Menschenhai is 5.8x heavier than Afrikanischer Löwe.
• Menschenhai lives longer (70 years vs 15 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Menschenhai	Afrikanischer Löwe
Kingdom same	Animalia (Tier)	Animalia (Tier)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordatiere)	Chordata (Chordatiere)
Class	Chondrichthyes (Knorpelfische)	Mammalia (Säugetiere)
Order	Lamniformes (Makrelenhaiartige)	Carnivora (Raubtiere)
Family	Lamnidae (Mackerel Sharks)	Felidae (Cats)
Genus	Carcharodon (Great White Sharks)	Panthera (Big Cats)
Species	Carcharodon carcharias	Panthera leo

Evolutionary Relationship

Menschenhai and Afrikanischer Löwe share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordatiere)

Conservation Status

Menschenhai

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Afrikanischer Löwe

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~23.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Menschenhai	Afrikanischer Löwe
Diet	Carnivore	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	70 years	15 years
Average Length	5.0 m	2.5 m
Average Weight	1.1 t	190.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Menschenhai

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, and temperate grasslands and steppes, among 9 distinct biome types spanning the Indomalayan and Neotropic and Palearctic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across Chile, Norway, Portugal, and Taiwan. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Afrikanischer Löwe

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.

Menschenhai

The largest predatory fish on Earth, great white sharks can reach 6 meters and 2,000 kg, inhabiting cool coastal and offshore waters in all major oceans. Apex predators employing ambush attacks from below, primarily on marine mammals, large fish, and seabirds. Despite their fearsome reputation, unprovoked attacks on humans are extremely rare. Vulnerable, with populations declining from finning, bycatch, and targeted fishing despite legal protections in many jurisdictions.

Afrikanischer Löwe

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.