Panthera leo

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Lion

Taxonomy

Subclass : Theria
Infraclass : Placentalia
Magnorder : Boreoeutheria
Superorder : Laurasiatheria
Order : Carnivora
Suborder : Feliformia
Infraorder : Feloidea
Family : Felidae
Subfamily : Pantherinae
Genus : Panthera

Species status

Living
Found in the wild
Listed in MSW3 2005

Authority citation

Linnaeus, C. 1758-01-01. Systema Naturæ per Regna Tria Naturæ, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio Decima, Reformata. Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm, 823 pp.

Authority publication link

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25033833

Original name as described

Felis leo

Type material

untraced (number not known)

Type kind

nonexistent

Type locality

Morocco, North Africa.

Biogeographic realm

Afrotropic · Indomalaya

Country distribution

India · Angola · Benin · Botswana · Burkina Faso · Cameroon · Central African Republic · Chad · Democratic Republic of the Congo · Eswatini · Ethiopia · Kenya · Malawi · Mozambique · Namibia · Niger · Nigeria · Senegal · Somalia · South Africa · South Sudan · Sudan · Tanzania · Uganda · Zambia · Zimbabwe · Cote d'Ivoire? · Ghana? · Guinea? · Guinea-Bissau · Mali? · Rwanda? · Togo?

IUCN Red List status

Vulnerable

Species Permalink

https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1006020

Country distribution map

The map below provides a general overview. Most species inhabit only specific regions within countries. Known distribution is shown in green and predicted distribution is in yellow. Hover over the highlighted regions to see the country name.

Names and synonyms

Present and past (if available) associated names to the species. Click on a name to view its details. If the list is long, scroll down to see more.

Leo leo azandicus

(J. A. Allen, 1924)

Family

Felidae

Root name

azandica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

AMNH M-52084

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://portal.vertnet.org/o/amnh/mammals?id=urn-catalog-amnh-mammals-m-52084

Authority page

224

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42949554

Authority publication

Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History

Leo leo vernayi

(A. Roberts, 1948)

Family

Felidae

Root name

vernayi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

AMNH M-83616

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://portal.vertnet.org/o/amnh/mammals?id=urn-catalog-amnh-mammals-m-83616

Authority page

65

Authority publication

Annals of the Transvaal Museum

Leo Gambianus

(J. E. Gray, 1843)

Family

Felidae

Root name

gambianus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_nudum

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1843.5.27.10

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/57c7d373-4711-42d5-9676-559064bf18cb

Authority page

40

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/53729637

Authority publication

British Museum Catalogue

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Felis Leo, Var. Goojratensis

(Smee, 1834)

Family

Felidae

Root name

goojratensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1855.12.24.432

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/8d05ae23-bd27-4c63-b7b1-663044aa7326

Authority page

140

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/12859580

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Panthera leo sinhaleyus

Deraniyagala, 1939

Family

Felidae

Root name

sinhaleya

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:PV:M 51883

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/d4939b58-9640-4801-aa40-4549b0e1a1d3

Authority page

237

Authority publication

Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society

Felis leo bleyenberghi

(Lönnberg, 1914)

Family

Felidae

Root name

bleyenberghi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

RMCA 1220

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

273

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/32991569

Authority publication

Revue zoologique africaine

Leo leo krugeri

(A. Roberts, 1929)

Family

Felidae

Root name

krugeri

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

TM 4400

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

91

Authority publication

Annals of the Transvaal Museum

Felis leo

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Family

Felidae

Root name

leo

Validity status

species

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

untraced (number not known)

Type kind

nonexistent

Authority page

41

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25033833

Authority publication

Stockholm

Name usages

  1. Erxleben (1777:500, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15873297) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36060)
  2. Cuvier (1797:117, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11637199) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38531)
  3. Daudin (1802:160, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42033410) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/64044)
  4. Thunberg (1811:303, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11767797) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/64194)
  5. Fischer (1814:xii, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29130073) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/12226)
  6. Lesson (1827:181, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207649) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36839)
  7. Cuvier (1842:2, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/44518525) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/60227)
  8. Lesson (1842:49) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)
  9. Crespon (1844:56, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/52795664) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38970)
  10. Loche (1858:7, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41949445) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/60564)
  11. Blyth (1863:53, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47534681) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37155)
  12. Stoliczka (1872:226, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/37137942) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67309)
  13. Lydekker (1908:413, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741633) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39820)
  14. Allen (1909:171) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/16003)
  15. Ward (1910:490, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15016133) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39628)
  16. Roberts (1913:103, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/50439561) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/17656)

Felis leo persicus

(J. N. von Meyer, 1826)

Family

Felidae

Root name

persica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

untraced (number not known)

Type kind

nonexistent

Authority page

6

Authority publication

book

Felis leo race 3, senegalensis

(J. N. von Meyer, 1826)

Family

Felidae

Root name

senegalensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

untraced (number not known)

Type kind

nonexistent

Authority page

6

Authority publication

book

Name usages

  1. Lydekker (1908:416, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741636) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39820)
  2. Zimara (1935:8) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67232)

Leo melanochaitus

(C. H. Smith, 1842)

Family

Felidae

Root name

melanochaita

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

untraced (number not known)

Type kind

nonexistent

Authority page

177

Authority page URI

https://books.google.com/books?id=DvE_AAAAcAAJ&pg=PA177

Authority publication

Edinburgh

Name usages

Smith (1842:177) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67141)

Leo nobilis

(J. E. Gray, 1867)

Family

Felidae

Root name

nobilis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_novum

Type

untraced (number not known)

Type kind

nonexistent

Authority page

263

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29533703

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Felis leo typica

(Lydekker, 1908)

Family

Felidae

Root name

typica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_novum · preoccupied

Type

untraced (number not known)

Type kind

nonexistent

Authority page

416

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741636

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Lydekker (1908:416, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741636) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39820)

Felis leo roosevelti

(E. Heller, 1913)

Family

Felidae

Root name

roosevelti

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:144054

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/32fb03057-732c-4181-a5ac-4471b066faf2

Authority page

2

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/30096102

Authority publication

Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Felis leo nyanzae

(E. Heller, 1913)

Family

Felidae

Root name

nyanzae

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:164551

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/318d28cf0-3d83-4daa-b13b-09a656ba0561

Authority page

4

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/30096104

Authority publication

Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections

Leo leo hollisteri

(J. A. Allen, 1924)

Family

Felidae

Root name

hollisteri

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:181568

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/352354c1d-0ef6-45ce-815b-91ff134df6f2

Authority page

229

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42949559

Authority publication

Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History

Felis leo massaicus

(O. R. Neumann, 1900)

Family

Felidae

Root name

massaica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

ZMB 55352

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

550

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10197824

Authority publication

Zoologische Jahrbücher

Fel. leo arabicus

(H. R. Schinz, 1825)

Family

Felidae

Root name

arabica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

352

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/51523769

Authority publication

Stuttgart

Felis leo gougeratensis

(C. H. Smith, 1842)

Family

Felidae

Root name

gougeratensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

178

Authority page URI

https://books.google.com/books?id=DvE_AAAAcAAJ&pg=PA178

Authority publication

Edinburgh

Name usages

Smith (1842:178) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67141)

Leo barbarus

(Fitzinger, 1855)

Family

Felidae

Root name

barbarus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

207

Authority publication

Vienna

Name usages

Fitzinger (1855:207) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/65926)

Felis (Leo) somaliensis

(Matschie, 1895)

Family

Felidae

Root name

somaliensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

66

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14835459

Authority publication

Berlin

Name usages

Matschie (1895:66, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14835459) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67260)

Felis leo barbara

(Lydekker, 1908)

Family

Felidae

Root name

barbara

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

416

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741636

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Lydekker (1908:416, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741636) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39820)

Felis leo masaica

(Lydekker, 1908)

Family

Felidae

Root name

masaica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

414

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741634

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Lydekker (1908:414, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741634) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39820)

Felis leo gujratensis

(J. R. Ward, 1910)

Family

Felidae

Root name

gujratensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

490

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15016133

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Ward (1910:490, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15016133) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39628)

Panthera leo

Corbet & J. Edwards Hill, 1980

Family

Felidae

Root name

leo

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

105

Authority publication

London

Name usages

  1. Corbet & Hill (1980:105) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63069)
  2. Honacki, Kinman & Koeppl (1982:283) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63071)
  3. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  4. O'Brien, Menninger & Nash (2006:518) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/7321)
  5. Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:137) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)
  6. Kingdon & Hoffman (2013:149) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/27643)
  7. Mammal Diversity Database (2018:ID #15951) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67336)
  8. Mammal Diversity Database (2019:ID #15951) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67337)
  9. Mammal Diversity Database (2024, https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1006020) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67250)
  10. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (2024, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/15951/259030422) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67246)

Panthera leo azandica

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Felidae

Root name

azandica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Panthera leo bleyenberghi

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Felidae

Root name

bleyenberghi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  2. Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:137) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)

Panthera leo hollisteri

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Felidae

Root name

hollisteri

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Panthera leo kamptzi

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Felidae

Root name

kamptzi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Panthera leo krugeri

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Felidae

Root name

krugeri

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Panthera leo leo

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Felidae

Root name

leo

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Panthera leo massaica

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Felidae

Root name

massaica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Panthera leo melanochaita

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Felidae

Root name

melanochaita

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Panthera leo nyanzae

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Felidae

Root name

nyanzae

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Panthera leo persica

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Felidae

Root name

persica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  2. Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:137) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)

Panthera leo senegalensis

Wozencraft, 2005

Family

Felidae

Root name

senegalensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)
  2. Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:137) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)

Panthera leo nubica

D. E. Wilson & Mittermeier, 2009

Family

Felidae

Root name

nubica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

137

Authority publication

Barcelona

Name usages

Wilson & Mittermeier (2009:137) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67177)

Felis leo race 1, barbaricus

(J. N. von Meyer, 1826)

Family

Felidae

Root name

barbarica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

6

Authority publication

book

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Leo africanus

(A. E. Brehm, 1829)

Family

Felidae

Root name

africana

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

638

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/27011885

Authority publication

Isis von Oken

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Leo Asiaticus

(A. E. Brehm, 1829)

Family

Felidae

Root name

asiatica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

638

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/27011885

Authority publication

Isis von Oken

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Felis leo bengalensis

(E. T. Bennett, 1829)

Family

Felidae

Root name

bengalensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

preoccupied

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Felis Leo Barbarus

(J. B. Fischer, 1829)

Family

Felidae

Root name

barbara

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

197

Authority publication

Stuttgart

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Felis Leo Capensis

(J. B. Fischer, 1829)

Family

Felidae

Root name

capensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

preoccupied

Authority page

365

Authority publication

Stuttgart

Name usages

  1. Lydekker (1908:416, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741636) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39820)
  2. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Felis Leo Senegalensis

(J. B. Fischer, 1829)

Family

Felidae

Root name

senegalensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

preoccupied

Authority page

197

Authority publication

Stuttgart

Leo africanus

(Jardine, 1834)

Family

Felidae

Root name

africana

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

preoccupied

Authority page

118

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18062914

Authority publication

Naturalist's Library

Felis leo indicus

(de Blainville, 1843)

Family

Felidae

Root name

indica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

pl. 6

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Felis leo nubicus

(de Blainville, 1843)

Family

Felidae

Root name

nubica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

preoccupied

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Felis Leo guzuratensis

(H. R. Schinz, 1844)

Family

Felidae

Root name

guzuratensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

unjustified_emendation

Authority page

427

Authority publication

Solothurn

Felis leo nigra

(Loche, 1858)

Family

Felidae

Root name

nigra

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

preoccupied

Authority page

7

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41949445

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

  1. Loche (1858:7, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41949445) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/60564)
  2. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Felis leo var. somaliensis

(Noack, 1891)

Family

Felidae

Root name

somaliensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

120

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7781010

Authority publication

Jahrbuch der Hamburgischen Wissenschaftlichen Anstalten

Name usages

  1. Lydekker (1908:414, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741634) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39820)
  2. Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Felis leo kamptzi

(Matschie, 1900)

Family

Felidae

Root name

kamptzi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

92-93

Authority publication

Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin

Name usages

  1. Lydekker (1908:416, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18741636) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39820)
  2. Zimara (1935:11) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67232)

Felis leo sabakiensis

(Lönnberg, 1908)

Family

Felidae

Root name

sabakiensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

22

Authority publication

book

Name usages

Wozencraft (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8533)

Felis leo Kamptsii

(E. Brass, 1911)

Family

Felidae

Root name

kamptsii

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

388

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14911308

Authority publication

Berlin

Panthera leo webbiensis

Zukowsky, 1964

Family

Felidae

Root name

webbiensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

270

Authority publication

Wissenschaftliche und kulturelle Mitteilungen aus dem Tierpark Berlin

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