Lion vs Paraguay tea

Panthera leo compared with Ilex paraguariensis

Key Differences

Lion is Vulnerable while Paraguay tea is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Lion	Paraguay tea
Kingdom	Animalia (hayvan)	Plantae (bitki)
Phylum	Chordata (Kordalılar)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Mammalia (memeliler)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Carnivora (etçiller)	Aquifoliales (Aquifoliales)
Family	Felidae (Cats)	Aquifoliaceae
Genus	Panthera (Big Cats)	Ilex
Species	Panthera leo	Ilex paraguariensis

Conservation Status

Lion

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~23.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Paraguay tea

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Lion	Paraguay tea
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.

Paraguay tea

Habitat

Inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests and deserts and xeric shrublands within the Afrotropic biogeographic realm.

Range

Distributed across Brazil, Seychelles, and United States. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

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.