How big is African lion?
For this comparison, African lion measures 1.22 m in height (4 ft). 4-foot shoulder height in the zoo’s illustrated reference.
The highest point of a mane is not the same measurement as shoulder height.
Put the measurement in perspective
The recorded height is 0.717 times the height of A 1.70 m person (1.7 m). This is a ratio of the labelled linear dimensions. It does not describe weight, area or volume.
Use the interactive comparison to see both drawings on one shared scale. You can choose another reference or enter your own height. If the sizes are very far apart, the smaller object may be almost invisible; an intermediate reference makes the progression easier to inspect.
Measurement source
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers
The note above explains the specific value selected. Drawings are schematic; the stated measurement determines the scale. Report a measurement issue.
Check the convention
An animal’s size can vary with sex, age, population and individual. A selected upper limit or illustrated adult value is not a species-wide average.
Read our methodology for the selection and scoring rules. Practise these dimensions in the animals size guessing game.