Asiatic Lion Panthera leo leo (prev. persica)

The Asiatic (Asian) Lion looks much like the African Lion but is a little smaller than the largest of those and has a lighter-coloured coat than most. The male, above, generally has a smaller mane.

It has a much reduced range, now confined in the wild only to the Gir Forest of north-western India. A hundred years ago it was still prevalent in north-eastern India and Iran/MiddleEast.

In 2017, the Asiatic Lion was classified as the same subspecies as the western and central African Lions.

Although the females and cubs live in small prides (groups), unlike the African Lions the males live separately and a dominant male does not live with the pride.

The lioness (above) also generally has a paler coat than her African cousin.