Lion with dead wildebeest
| Title | Info |
|---|---|
| Common name | Lion; Wildebeest or Gnu |
| Scientific name | Panthera leo; Connochaetes taurinus |
| Taxonomic group | Felidae; Bovidae |
| Source | Dan L. Perlman |
| Ecosystems | Grasslands, savannas |
| Grasslands and savannas | Tropical grassland |
| Ecological interactions | Predation |
| Organisms | Animals |
| Animals | Mammals |
| Lessons | Predation |
| Date | August 10, 2003 |
| Location | Ngorongoro Crater,Tanzania,Africa |
Lion with dead wildebeest, Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania. The females of this lion's pride recently killed a wildebeest, whose carcass can be seen in the center of this image. Lionesses generally do most of the hunting (and are much better hunters than the males), but the males (which are larger) typically get the first crack at the food. Males can weigh nearly 600 lb (about 250 kg) and can eat as much as 25% of their own weight in a single meal. This image was taken in Ngorongoro Crater, an extinct volcano crater some 100 square mi (250 square km) in area, with a 2,000 ft (600 m) wall around it; the crater wall can be seen in the distance.
