african lioness panthera leo sitting near tourist vehicle pix sanjiv shukla

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African lioness (Panthera leo) sitting near tourist vehicle : (pix Sanjiv Shukla)

African lion (Panthera leo) is a large wild cat native to Africa. It has a muscular, broad-chested body, short, rounded head, round ears, and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. Adult males are larger than females and have a prominent mane. It is a social species that lives in family groups called prides, which may contain few adult males and related females and cubs. Groups of female lions usually hunt together, preying mostly on large ungulates. The lion is an apex and keystone predator although some lions scavenge when opportunities occur. Lions inhabit grasslands, savannas and shrublands. It is usually more diurnal than other wild cats.