Lion vs Scaly Tongue-fern

Panthera leo compared with Elaphoglossum semicylindricum

Key Differences

• Lion is Vulnerable while Scaly Tongue-fern is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Lion	Scaly Tongue-fern
Kingdom	Animalia (động vật)	Plantae (thực vật)
Phylum	Chordata (động vật có dây sống)	Tracheophyta
Class	Mammalia (lớp Thú)	Polypodiopsida (Lớp Dương xỉ)
Order	Carnivora (bộ Ăn thịt)	Polypodiales (Bộ Dương xỉ)
Family	Felidae (Cats)	Dryopteridaceae
Genus	Panthera (Big Cats)	Elaphoglossum
Species	Panthera leo	Elaphoglossum semicylindricum

Conservation Status

Lion

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~23.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Scaly Tongue-fern

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Lion	Scaly Tongue-fern
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.

Scaly Tongue-fern

Habitat

Typically found in moist, shaded forest floors and tropical canopies.

Range

Found in Portugal. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

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.