a large animal of the cat family that lives in Africa and parts of southern Asia. Lions have gold-coloured fur and the male has a mane (=long hair around its neck). → lioness.——朗文当代大辞典

A large carnivorous quadruped, Felis leo, now found native only in Africa and southern Asia, of a tawny or yellowish brown colour, and having a tufted tail. The male is distinguished by a flowing shaggy mane. (The Maneless Lion of Gujerat is a recognized Asiatic variety with only a slight mane.) It is very powerful, and has a noble and impressive appearance; whence it is sometimes called ‘the king of beasts’. In early use the name was applied to both sexes; from the 13th cent. the derivative lioness n.   has been used for the female.——牛津当代大辞典  @en