Lions Are the Only Cats That Live in Groups
A lion is a large African cat. Its social structure is unique among the cat family.
A lion is a large wild cat native to Africa and a small part of India. It is the only cat that lives in permanent social groups. A pride is built around related females who stay for life and hunt cooperatively; males arrive from outside and are usually driven off within a few years. Every other cat species hunts and lives alone. *The lion's share* comes from Aesop, where the lion claims everything, not merely the largest portion.
- A large cat. *An African lion.*
- A pride. *A pride of lions.*
- Lioness — the female. *A lioness.*
- The lion's share — nearly all. *The lion's share.*
- Greek — *leon*. *The root.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | lion | A lion. |
| Plural | lions | Lions. |
| Feminine | lioness | A lioness. |
| Young | cub | A cub. |
| Latin | leo | A lion. |
- The pride rested in the shade.Group.
- She took the lion's share.Idiom.
- Only lions live in groups.Fact.
How a pride works
- Related females form the stable core and stay for life
- They hunt cooperatively, which larger prey requires
- Males come from outside and hold tenure for a few years
- Cubs are often raised communally, nursing from several females
- No other cat species lives this way
Old French *lion*, from Latin *leo*, from Greek *leon*, probably of Semitic origin.
Are lions the only social cats?
Yes. Every other cat species lives and hunts alone. Lion prides are built around related females who remain together for life.
What does the lion's share mean?
Nearly all of something. In Aesop's fable the lion claims the entire kill, not simply the biggest portion.