The African lion (Panthera leo) is a big, scary critter. A tom can weigh close to 500 pounds. They have claws like meathooks, crushing jaws full of nasty, sharp teeth, and are powerful, broad-chested beasts. African professional hunter Peter Hathaway Capstick, who hunted in Africa for decades and wrote several books on the subject, once commented that lions were only the African animal that really scared him, citing their size, speed, and willingness to kill. Lions should be on everyone’s “Don’t mess with” list.