gray wolf vs Leao

Canis lupus compared with Panthera leo

Key Differences

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

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	gray wolf	Leao
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (cordados)	Chordata (cordados)
Class same	Mammalia (mamíferos)	Mammalia (mamíferos)
Order same	Carnivora (carnívoros)	Carnivora (carnívoros)
Family	Canidae (Dogs & Wolves)	Felidae (Cats)
Genus	Canis (Dogs & Wolves)	Panthera (Big Cats)
Species	Canis lupus	Panthera leo

Evolutionary Relationship

gray wolf and Leao share a common ancestor at the Order level: Carnivora. (carnívoros)

Conservation Status

gray wolf

CR — Critically Endangered

Population: ~300.0K

Trend: Stable →

Leao

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~23.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	gray wolf	Leao
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.

Leao

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

O lobo-cinzento (Canis lupus), o canídeo selvagem mais amplamente distribuído, ocorre da América do Norte à Eurásia em habitats diversos, incluindo tundra, florestas e pradarias. São animais altamente sociais que vivem em matilhas familiares lideradas por um casal reprodutor dominante. Como predadores-chave, os lobos regulam as populações de presas e moldam profundamente a estrutura do ecossistema, como demonstrou sua reintrodução em Yellowstone. Antes muito perseguidos, as populações estão se recuperando em muitas regiões.

Leao

O maior felino selvagem da África, o leão pode atingir até 250 kg e é o único felídeo social, vivendo em grupos nas savanas e pastagens da África Subsaariana. Os machos se distinguem por suas icônicas juba. Como predadores de topo, regulam as populações de herbívoros e mantêm o equilíbrio do ecossistema. Classificado como Vulnerável devido à perda de habitat e ao conflito entre humanos e vida selvagem.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇨🇴 Colombia 🇪🇨 Ecuador