Eastern Cape Dwarf Cycad vs Afrikanischer Löwe

Encephalartos caffer compared with Panthera leo

Key Differences

• Eastern Cape Dwarf Cycad is Near Threatened while Afrikanischer Löwe is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Eastern Cape Dwarf Cycad	Afrikanischer Löwe
Kingdom	Plantae (Pflanzen)	Animalia (Tier)
Phylum	Tracheophyta	Chordata (Chordatiere)
Class	Cycadopsida (Cycadopsida)	Mammalia (Säugetiere)
Order	Cycadales (Palmfarne)	Carnivora (Raubtiere)
Family	Zamiaceae	Felidae (Cats)
Genus	Encephalartos	Panthera (Big Cats)
Species	Encephalartos caffer	Panthera leo

Conservation Status

Eastern Cape Dwarf Cycad

NT — Near Threatened

Afrikanischer Löwe

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~23.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Eastern Cape Dwarf Cycad	Afrikanischer Löwe
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	15 years
Average Length	—	2.5 m
Average Weight	—	190.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Eastern Cape Dwarf Cycad

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.

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.