What is the scientific name of the African lion, a major safari big cat?

The scientific name of the African lion is Panthera leo.

The lion belongs to the genus Panthera, which also includes the tiger, leopard, jaguar, and snow leopard. The species name leo is Latin for “lion.” Although lions live in parts of Asia as well as Africa, most living wild lions are found in sub-Saharan Africa.

African lions are the only cats that routinely live in stable social groups called prides. A pride usually includes related females, their cubs, and one or more adult males, although group size and membership vary. Lions are also unusual among cats because both males and females may cooperate in hunting and defending territory.

Panthera pardus is the leopard, while Acinonyx jubatus is the cheetah; neither is the lion’s scientific name. The African lion is not a separate species from the Asiatic lion, which is generally classified as the subspecies Panthera leo leo.