Britannica Sources used in this answer

Are mountain lions closely related to African lions?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

A male lion — lion The distinguishing feature of a male lion (*Panthera leo*) is its mane, which makes the animal look larger and may serve to intimidate rivals or impress prospective mates.

Mountain lions are not closely related to African lions in terms of their biological classification. While both are members of the family Felidae, they belong to different subfamilies and genera.12

African lions are classified in the genus Panthera, which consists of the "big" or "roaring" cats, including tigers, leopards, and jaguars. In contrast, the mountain lion—also known as the puma or cougar—is a New World member of the genus Puma and belongs to the subfamily Felinae.12

Because they belong to distinct evolutionary lineages within the cat family, they are not considered close relatives.12