Leo - a beast of prey, is one of four members of the genus Panthers belonging to the subfamily of big cats. The lion is the second largest of the big cats now zhivyschih, second only to the tiger. Weight male lions sometimes reaches 250 kg. Previously, the lions have a wider habitat. In the early Middle Ages, they can be found all over Africa, in addition to tropical forests and deserts. They met in the Middle East and Iran. You lived in the south of Europe, including the south of modern Russia (rising until about the 45th parallel). In the North-West and North India was the usual lion predator. But over time, due to human persecution (in self-defense and hunting trophies) and because of the destruction of its usual habitat, lions have lost a significant portion of its range. In Europe, Lions have been completely destroyed. And Africa they survived only to sub-Saharan Africa, and the area of its habitat is currently broken. In Asia, it is also virtually wiped out: only a small group lives in Girskom forest in the Indian state of Gujarat. Lions have a very characteristic appearance. It is a representative of one of the few predators that have pronounced sexual demorfizm. Males are significantly more females and have a mane. This mane of some subspecies of highly developed and can cover the shoulders, back and chest. Typically, the lion has a yellow-gray color of various shades. Mane is often the same color with skin, but sometimes it is darker, but in rare cases there are lions with black mane. It is the color of the mane to a large extent determine the subspecies of lion. Aside from the mane, the hair on the predator's body is short, and only the tip of the tail has long hair brush. Savannah is the main habitat of lions. But sometimes they can be found in shrubby areas, and even in the woods.Lions - schooling predators. Unlike tigers and others they do not live large cats alone, and make specific family groups - Pride. Normal composition of pride is a group of related females and their offspring, as well as one or more adult males. On the hunt females come together. Their main prey - large ungulates. The males often hunt do not participate, but the first to have the right to enjoy the booty. The main objective of the males - the protection of the pride. In nature, the life of a lion reaches from 10 to 14 years. In captivity, there were times when they lived to 20 years. Lions males rarely live up to 10 years, because the struggle for dominance in the territory, and fighting with other males often lead to death. Subspecies last isolated 12 subspecies of lion, the largest of which was the Barbary lion. The main feature of the subspecies were differences in size and appearance of the mane. However, since these differences were very small, and within range of each subspecies, there is an individual variation, the recent data of the subspecies is considered invalid.Currently, it decided to allocate only 8 subspecies. Modern types of Panthera leo persica - Asiatic, Persian or Indian lion. In the old days of its habitat area included Turkey, South-West Asia, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. Large prides and daily lifestyle of the Indian lion put on the brink of extinction due to the fact that it has become an easy target for poachers, using firearms. This lion is preserved only in Girskom forest in India. The population in the wild is about 360 individuals. Panthera leo leo - Barbary Lion. In the wild, extinct due to uncontrolled hunting. Separate individuals survived in captivity. It was the largest subspecies. Body length of males reached 3-3.3 meters and weighs more than 200 kg. Barbary lions inhabited the vast expanses from Morocco to Egypt. It is believed that the last wild Barbary lion fell victim to hunters in Morocco in 1922.Panthera leo senegalensis - West African or Senegalese lion. Habitat is located in West Africa, from Senegal to Nigeria. Panthera leo azandica - severokongolezsky lion. Habitat is located in the north-eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Panthera leo nubica - East African lion or the Maasai. Habitat is located in East Africa, from Ethiopia and Kenya to Tanzania and Mozambique. Panthera leo bleyenberghi - Katanga or southwest African lion. Habitat is located in South-West Africa - Namibia, Botswana, Angola, Zaire, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Panthera leo krugeri - Transvaal or South-East African lion. Habitat covers the Transvaal region of the Republic of South Africa, including the Kruger National Park. Panthera leo melanochaita - Cape