Panthera leo somaliensis

The Somali lion is the smallest lion subspecies. Both males and females are lean and a bit like the Indian lion. The male has a light reddish-brown mane on its neck.

Distributed in Somalia.

The scientific name of the Somali lion is Panthera leo somaliensis. It is the original subspecies of lion and the smallest subspecies of lion in existence. It is smaller than the Asiatic lion (Persian lion) and is now one of the Nubian lion populations.

Somali lions usually hunt at night or in the cool of the morning, preferring to hunt at night. Prey includes antelopes, duikers, wildebeests, zebras, buffaloes, giraffes, elephant cubs, hippos, hippopotamus cubs, as well as baboons, rabbits, birds, and sometimes even fish. After the prey is captured, it is eaten according to the status within the group: first the male lion, then the highest-ranking female lion, and finally the young lion. This often leads to status disputes within the group, and such fights often result in injuries to each other. Somali lions rarely prey on human livestock.

The gestation period of females is 105-116 days, and each litter has 2-5 cubs, and there are also up to 7 cubs, mostly born in grass or caves. Newborn cubs weigh about 0.5 kg, cannot see, and can only grow teeth after 15 days. There are dark brown spots or stripes on the body, which gradually disappear after about half a year.

Listed in the 2008 Red List of Endangered Species of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) ver 3.1-Vulnerable (VU).

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