Blue Cycad vs Lion

Encephalartos nubimontanus compared with Panthera leo

Key Differences

Blue Cycad is Extinct in the Wild while Lion is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Blue Cycad	Lion
Kingdom	Plantae (растения)	Animalia (животные)
Phylum	Tracheophyta	Chordata (хордовые)
Class	Cycadopsida (саговниковые)	Mammalia (млекопитающие)
Order	Cycadales (саговниковые)	Carnivora (хищные)
Family	Zamiaceae	Felidae (Cats)
Genus	Encephalartos	Panthera (Big Cats)
Species	Encephalartos nubimontanus	Panthera leo

Conservation Status

Blue Cycad

EW — Extinct in the Wild

Lion

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~23.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Blue Cycad	Lion
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	15 years
Average Length	—	2.5 m
Average Weight	—	190.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Blue Cycad

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.

Blue Cycad

The Blue Cycad (Encephalartos nubimontanus) is a species in the genus Encephalartos. It is currently classified as Extinct in the Wild on the IUCN Red List. As a member of the genus Encephalartos, it shares ecological traits with closely related species.

Lion

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.