Leao vs star-thistle

Panthera leo compared with Centaurea calcitrapa

Key Differences

Leao is Vulnerable while star-thistle is Extinct.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Leao	star-thistle
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (plantas)
Phylum	Chordata (cordados)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Mammalia (mamíferos)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Carnivora (carnívoros)	Asterales (Daisies & Sunflowers)
Family	Felidae (Cats)	Asteraceae (Daisy Family)
Genus	Panthera (Big Cats)	Centaurea
Species	Panthera leo	Centaurea calcitrapa

Conservation Status

Leao

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~23.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

star-thistle

EX — Extinct

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Leao	star-thistle
Diet	Carnivore	—
Average Lifespan	15 years	—
Average Length	2.5 m	—
Average Weight	190.0 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic 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.

star-thistle

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (South Africa), Asia (India, Japan), Europe (18 countries), North America (Canada, Mexico, United States), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia, New Zealand), and South America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile).

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.