Lion vs Malayan Water Shrew

Panthera leo compared with Chimarrogale hantu

Key Differences

• Lion is Vulnerable while Malayan Water Shrew is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Lion	Malayan Water Shrew
Kingdom same	Animalia (животные)	Animalia (животные)
Phylum same	Chordata (хордовые)	Chordata (хордовые)
Class same	Mammalia (млекопитающие)	Mammalia (млекопитающие)
Order	Carnivora (хищные)	Soricomorpha (землеройкообразные)
Family	Felidae (Cats)	Soricidae
Genus	Panthera (Big Cats)	Chimarrogale
Species	Panthera leo	Chimarrogale hantu

Evolutionary Relationship

Lion and Malayan Water Shrew share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (млекопитающие)

Conservation Status

Lion

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~23.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Malayan Water Shrew

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Lion	Malayan Water Shrew
Diet	Carnivore	—
Average Lifespan	15 years	—
Average Length	2.5 m	—
Average Weight	190.0 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic 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.

Malayan Water Shrew

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

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.