Big-eared opossum vs Lion

Didelphis aurita compared with Panthera leo

Key Differences

• Big-eared opossum is Least Concern while Lion is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Big-eared opossum	Lion
Kingdom same	Animalia (hayvan)	Animalia (hayvan)
Phylum same	Chordata (Kordalılar)	Chordata (Kordalılar)
Class same	Mammalia (memeliler)	Mammalia (memeliler)
Order	Didelphimorphia (Didelphimorphia)	Carnivora (etçiller)
Family	Didelphidae	Felidae (Cats)
Genus	Didelphis	Panthera (Big Cats)
Species	Didelphis aurita	Panthera leo

Evolutionary Relationship

Big-eared opossum and Lion share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (memeliler)

Conservation Status

Big-eared opossum

LC — Least Concern

Lion

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~23.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Big-eared opossum	Lion
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	15 years
Average Length	—	2.5 m
Average Weight	—	190.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Big-eared opossum

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

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.

Big-eared opossum

The Big-eared opossum (Didelphis aurita) is a species in the genus Didelphis. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. 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.