Lion d'Afrique vs Maui's paddle

Panthera leo compared with Elaphoglossum crassicaule

Key Differences

• Lion d'Afrique is Vulnerable while Maui's paddle is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Lion d'Afrique	Maui's paddle
Kingdom	Animalia (animal)	Plantae (plante)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Tracheophyta
Class	Mammalia (mammifères)	Polypodiopsida (Filicopsida)
Order	Carnivora (carnivores)	Polypodiales (Polypodiales)
Family	Felidae (Cats)	Dryopteridaceae
Genus	Panthera (Big Cats)	Elaphoglossum
Species	Panthera leo	Elaphoglossum crassicaule

Conservation Status

Lion d'Afrique

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~23.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Maui's paddle

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Lion d'Afrique	Maui's paddle
Diet	Carnivore	—
Average Lifespan	15 years	—
Average Length	2.5 m	—
Average Weight	190.0 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Lion d'Afrique

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.

Maui's paddle

Habitat

Typically found in moist, shaded forest floors and tropical canopies.

Lion d'Afrique

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.