The characteristics of lions are intriguing indeed! Firstly, lions are social animals, living in groups called ‘prides,’ typically consisting of up to 15 members. The roar of a lion is quite distinctive, loud enough to be heard up to 8 km away. It might be interesting to know that the female lions – lionesses – do most of the hunting, while the males protect the pride. Male lions are easily recognized by their impressive mane that gets darker with age. On average, their body length ranges between 8.2 to 9.8 feet, and they have a lifespan of around 10-14 years in the wild. They hold the title of being the second largest cat species in the world.