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American black bear vs Lion

American black bear vs lion
Lion is larger on weight
Lion is somewhat greater than American black bear on weight — about 1.5×.

An American black bear and a lion can be compared on 5 measures. The figures below are typical adult or full-size values, with the larger of the two in bold.

Side by side

Larger value in bold. Ranges reflect genuine variation, not uncertainty.
American black bear Lion
Weight 40–280 kg 120–250 kg
Height 0.7–1 m 0.9–1.2 m
Length 1.2–2 m 1.6–2.5 m
Top speed 48 km/h 60–80 km/h
Typical lifespan 18–30 yr 10–20 yr

What the numbers say

  • Lion is somewhat greater than American black bear on weight — about 1.5×.
  • Lion is somewhat greater than American black bear on height — about 1.2×.
  • Lion is somewhat greater than American black bear on length — about 1.3×.
  • Lion is 1.7× American black bear on top speed.
  • American black bear is somewhat greater than lion on typical lifespan — about 1.4×.

Weight compared.

Lion 120–250 kg
American black bear 40–280 kg

American black bear

North America's most common bear, and the one most people actually encounter.

Lion

The second-largest living cat and the only one that lives in permanent social groups.

This is a comparison of published measurements, nothing more. It describes how two things differ on measures that have been recorded; it does not predict how they would fare against each other in any situation.

Common questions

Which is bigger, American black bear or lion?
Lion is somewhat greater than American black bear on weight — about 1.5×. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.
How do American black bears and lions compare on height?
American black bear: 0.7–1 m. Lion: 0.9–1.2 m. Lion is somewhat greater than American black bear on height — about 1.2×.
How do American black bears and lions compare on length?
American black bear: 1.2–2 m. Lion: 1.6–2.5 m. Lion is somewhat greater than American black bear on length — about 1.3×.

Related pages

Sources

  1. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Smithsonian Institution
  2. Wikidata — Wikimedia Foundation (CC0 1.0)

How these figures are compiled and checked