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King of Beasts 狮子

Even skywatchers connect lions with royalty. For example, the brightest star in the constellation Leo the Lion is called Regulus -- which means "little king." Discover why lions are said to be the king of beasts -- today on Earth and Sky.

JB: This is Earth and Sky, with a listener's question. He writes, "Why are lions sometimes called 'the king of beasts'?"

DB: People have made this association for a couple of thousand years at least. But lions are not the biggest of animals -- and they're not the strongest. A lion would fit into the mouth of a blue whale. And, even among cats, the tiger is more powerful than the lion.

JB: Adult male lions look regal, with flowing manes framing their faces. Not only does this long, thick fur soften an enemy's blows, it also makes a lion's head look bigger -- perhaps giving it an appearance of being "crowned." The lion's roar is impressive, too. Lions roar to define their territory -- and the thundering sound can be heard from several kilometers away.

DB: And some might say that a lion lives a life "fit for a king." Lions typically sleep for about 20 hours a day. Unless it's provoked, a lion's leisure is usually only interrupted by the hunt for food -- most often, a zebra or wildebeest. After a fierce battle, lions will feast until full -- sometimes eating up to 75 pounds of meat at one meal!

JB: And here's another way lions are king -- they're pretty much at the top of the food chain in the plains of Africa where most of the wild lions live today. Ask us your science question on our website at earthsky.org. With thanks to the National Science Foundation, we're Block and Byrd for Earth and Sky.