All Subspecies
Panthera leo leo and the Asian lion
How long has this species been in existence
Modern lions are thought to have originated around 124,000 years ago in eastern and southern Africa
Closest living relative
The closest living relative is the jaguar, followed by leopards and tigers.
3 ancestors
Lions, and all members of the cat family, are believed to be descended from a common ancestor, called Proailurus Lemanensis, which is simply 'first cat', a cat-like creature that stalked the earth 25 years ago. And two other recognized ancestors of the lion is the American Lion (Panthera Atrox) and the Cave Lion (Panthera Fossils).