Lion d'Afrique vs Petit-duc du Pérou

Panthera leo compared with Megascops roboratus

Key Differences

Lion d'Afrique is Vulnerable while Petit-duc du Pérou is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Lion d'Afrique	Petit-duc du Pérou
Kingdom same	Animalia (animal)	Animalia (animal)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (mammifères)	Aves (oiseau)
Order	Carnivora (carnivores)	Strigiformes (Owls)
Family	Felidae (Cats)	Strigidae (True Owls)
Genus	Panthera (Big Cats)	Megascops
Species	Panthera leo	Megascops roboratus

Evolutionary Relationship

Lion d'Afrique and Petit-duc du Pérou share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Afficher Phylum: Chordata

Conservation Status

Lion d'Afrique

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~23.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Petit-duc du Pérou

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Lion d'Afrique	Petit-duc du Pérou
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.

Petit-duc du Pérou

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Distributed across Ecuador and Norway.

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.