gray wolf vs Lion

Canis lupus compared with Panthera leo

Key Differences

  • gray wolf is Critically Endangered while Lion is Vulnerable.
  • Lion is 4.2x heavier than gray wolf.
  • Lion lives longer (15 years vs 13 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank gray wolf Lion
Kingdom same Animalia (動物) Animalia (動物)
Phylum same Chordata (脊索動物) Chordata (脊索動物)
Class same Mammalia (哺乳類) Mammalia (哺乳類)
Order same Carnivora (ネコ目) Carnivora (ネコ目)
Family Canidae (Dogs & Wolves) Felidae (Cats)
Genus Canis (Dogs & Wolves) Panthera (Big Cats)
Species Canis lupus Panthera leo

Evolutionary Relationship

gray wolf and Lion share a common ancestor at the Order level: Carnivora. (ネコ目)

Conservation Status

gray wolf

CR — Critically Endangered

Population: ~300.0K

Trend: Stable →

Lion

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~23.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute gray wolf Lion
Diet Carnivore Carnivore
Average Lifespan 13 years 15 years
Average Length 1.6 m 2.5 m
Average Weight 45.0 kg 190.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

gray wolf

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, deserts and xeric shrublands, and tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, among 13 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Seychelles), Asia (Japan), Europe (5 countries), North America (7 countries), Oceania and the Pacific (Marshall Islands, Vanuatu), and South America (5 countries). Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its 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.

gray wolf

最も広い分布域を持つ野生のイヌ科動物であるハイイロオオカミは、北アメリカからユーラシアにかけてのツンドラ、森林、草原などの多様な生息地に分布します。優位な繁殖ペアに率いられた家族単位の群れで生活する高度に社会的な動物です。キーストーン捕食者として獲物個体群を調整し、生態系の構造を根本的に形成することは、イエローストーンでの再導入により実証されています。かつて激しく迫害されましたが、多くの地域で個体群は回復しつつあります。

Lion

アフリカ最大の野生ネコ科動物で最大250kgに達し、サハラ以南のサバンナや草原に生息する唯一の社会性ネコ科動物です。雄は象徴的なたてがみで識別されます。頂点捕食者として草食動物の個体群を調節し、生態系のバランスを維持します。生息地の喪失と人間との軋轢により危急種に分類されています。

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

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