Lion vs Tiger: What’s the Difference?
The main difference between lions and tigers is that lions are social cats of open African savanna that live in prides, while tigers are solitary, striped hunters of Asian forests. Tigers are the larger species on average and are strong swimmers; male lions are the only cats with a mane. Both belong to the genus Panthera, but their lifestyles, coats and ranges are very different.
| Lion | Tiger | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Panthera leo | Panthera tigris |
| Lifespan | 10–14 years in the wild | 10–15 years in the wild |
| Weight | 120–190 kg (265–420 lb) | 75–260 kg (165–575 lb) |
| Size | 0.9–1.2 m (3–4 ft) (shoulder height) | 0.8–1.1 m (2.6–3.6 ft) (shoulder height) |
| Top speed | 80 km/h (50 mph) | 49–65 km/h (30–40 mph) |
| Gestation / incubation | about 110 days | about 103 days |
| Diet | Carnivore | Carnivore |
| Family | Felidae | Felidae |
| Habitat | Savanna, Grassland, Open woodland, Scrub | Tropical forest, Mangrove swamp, Grassland, Temperate forest, Taiga |
| IUCN status | Vulnerable | Endangered |
Figures shown are for the lion (Panthera leo) and the tiger (Panthera tigris).
Key differences
Social life
Lions are the only truly social cats. A pride is built around related females that raise cubs together and often hunt cooperatively, with one or a few males defending the group. Tigers live alone. Adults hold individual territories marked with scent and scratches, and they meet mainly to mate, although mothers stay with their cubs until the young can hunt.
Coat and mane
A tiger's orange coat with dark vertical stripes is unique among cats, and the stripe pattern differs on every individual, much like a fingerprint. Lions are plain tawny as adults, though cubs are born with faint spots. Adult male lions grow a mane that darkens with age and condition; tigers have only a short ruff around the cheeks.
Range and habitat
Wild lions live in sub-Saharan Africa, plus one small population in and around Gir Forest in western India. They prefer open savanna, grassland and scrub. Tigers are found only in Asia, from India and Nepal through Southeast Asia to the Russian Far East, in forests, mangroves, tall grassland and snowy taiga. Their ranges no longer overlap in the wild.
Hunting style
Lionesses frequently hunt as a team, fanning out to surround herds of zebra, wildebeest and buffalo in open country. A tiger hunts alone by stealth, using cover to creep close before a short rush and a bite to the throat or neck. Tigers rely far more on ambush because a lone cat in forest cannot run prey down.
Water
Tigers are unusually fond of water for a cat. They swim across rivers, cool off in pools during hot weather and, in the Sundarbans mangroves, move between islands regularly. Lions can swim when they must, and some Okavango Delta prides wade often, but most lions avoid deep water when they can.
Conservation status
The tiger is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with only a few thousand left in the wild after a century of habitat loss and poaching. The lion is listed as Vulnerable. Lion numbers are higher, but they have disappeared from most of their historical range in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
How to tell them apart
- Stripes mean tiger. No other big cat has bold dark vertical stripes on an orange coat.
- A plain sandy coat with a dark tuft at the tip of the tail means lion.
- A large mane around the head and neck identifies an adult male lion.
- A group of big cats resting together in open grassland is almost certainly a lion pride; tigers are nearly always seen alone.
What they have in common
Lions and tigers are close relatives in the genus Panthera, along with leopards, jaguars and snow leopards. Both are apex predators that eat mainly large hoofed mammals, both can roar thanks to a specialized larynx, and both have retractable claws, powerful forelimbs and long canine teeth. Their skeletons are so alike that experts find them hard to tell apart.
Frequently asked questions
Who would win in a fight, a lion or a tiger?
There is no reliable answer, because the two do not meet in the wild and outcomes between individual animals vary. Tigers are, on average, the heavier cat and fight alone all their lives, while male lions are experienced fighters protected by a mane. Historical accounts from staged fights and captivity report wins for both species.
Can lions and tigers interbreed?
Yes, but only in captivity. A male lion and a female tiger produce a liger, while a male tiger and a female lion produce a tigon. Male hybrids are sterile, though females are sometimes fertile. These hybrids do not occur in the wild, and most accredited zoos do not breed them.
Which is bigger, a lion or a tiger?
Tigers are the largest living cats on average. The big mainland subspecies, such as Bengal and Siberian (Amur) tigers, typically outweigh African lions, although a large male lion can be heavier than a small tiger, such as a Sumatran. The comparison table above shows the typical measurements.
Do lions and tigers live in the same place?
Not today. India is the only country with both species, but its lions are confined to the Gir region of Gujarat, where there are no tigers. Historically, Asiatic lions and tigers both ranged widely across parts of western and southern Asia, though they generally favored different habitats.