The Lion King is one of Disney's most iconic films. Many of us are the people who have grown up with her and who discover our love for animals by enjoying and suffering with her characters. Now, although we are very clear that Simba is a lion, what about the rest of the characters? What animals are Timon and Pumbaa? And Zazu?
In this article on our site we talk about the animals from The Lion King and we explain what animals they correspond to in the real world to know a little better to the intrepid characters of this film. Keep reading!
What animal is Timon?
The Timon character represents a meerkat (Suricata suricatta), which in turn is a type of mongoose. For this reason, many people claim that Timon is a mongoose.
Mongooses are excellent hunters, since they are carnivorous animals. They are part of the Herpestidae family and, within it, we find the Suricata genus, where we find the aforementioned meerkats, such as Timón from The Lion King. Meerkats are the smallest group within the family, weighing less than 1kg Without a doubt, they are lovable animals and therefore it is not surprising that have been chosen to star in a movie like this.
Meerkats feed on a wide variety of animals generally smaller than them, among which thestand out. termites , the caterpillars , the spiders , some rodents, lizards or even birds This is why we see Timon feeding on worms and termites in the film. However, they can also eat eggs, fruit or tubers. Find out in this other article What do meerkats eat.
What animal is Pumbaa?
Pumbaa from The Lion King is a common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus), an animal very similar to a wild boar but actually belonging to another species. Both, wild boar and warthog, belong to the same family (Suidae), but to different genera. Due to this and their physical similarity, many people believe that Pumbaa is a boar, however, as you have just verified, this is not the case.
The warthogs inhabit the African savannah and are considered omnivorous animals, which feed on grasses and roots as well as other more small, such as birds or reptiles. They love to wallow in the mud, a trait that we also appreciate in Pumbaa.
Warthogs are characterized by being less stocky than wild boars and having a very peculiar snout, as well as a ridge of hair that runs from the head to the tail. However, they are also very heavy animals, since even can weigh up to 100 kg
Relationship between meerkat and warthog (Timon and Pumbaa)
The truth is that in the real world it is also possible to see a meerkat and a warthog together, so it is no coincidence that in the movie The Lion King Timon and Pumbaa are best friends. Thus, in its natural habitat, the meerkat usually grooms and deworms the warthog, so that one finds food and the other gets rid of the parasites.
The symbiotic relationship between these animals is very beneficial for both and the world of cinema has taken advantage of it to bring it to the big screen and create two characters as charismatic and inseparable as these.
What animal is Zazu?
Zazu, the blue bird that always accompanies Simba and Nala, is actually a red-billed hornbill (Tockus erythorhynchus). It is a native bird of Africa that is characterized, mainly, by its long beak and an intense red color, a trait that we undoubtedly noticeably appreciate in Zazú, as well as by its also long tail.
The red-billed hornbill is an omnivorous bird and usually forms flocks, so it is not a solitary bird as it appears in the film.
What animal is Rafiki?
Wonder what animal is the monkey from The Lion King? Rafiki, the baboon who always advises Simba and who lives in the tree known as the baobab, is a mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx). Mandrills are primates classified in the family Cercopithecidae and the genus Mandrilus, so that they are within the so-called "monkeys of the old world". They weigh about 50 kg and are among the largest monkeys.
As we see in the character of Rafiki, baboons are characterized by the striking colors of their faces, red and blue, as well as the combination of gray and white on their fur. His expression conveys wisdom, which is exactly what the character represents in the film. Like the previous ones, the mandrill is an endemic animal of Africa.
Other animals from The Lion King
The aforementioned are not the only animals that appear in The Lion King movie, but they are the most difficult to identify. Next, we name more animals from The Lion King so that you know each of the species that appear:
- Lions. It's no secret to anyone that both Simba, Nala and Scar, and the rest of the pack, are lions. In real life, and in the movie, lion prides are made up of multiple females and a single male.
- Hyenas. Scar's animal accomplices, namely Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed, are hyenas. These animals stand out for their particular face and expression, which seem to always be smiling. They are carnivorous animals and scavengers.
- Ñus. If you're wondering what animals make the stampede in The Lion King, the answer is wildebeest. They are animals that live in large groups to better defend themselves against their predators, in this case lions.
- In the film we also find other animals that do not embody any character in particular, but appear as part of the scenes. We are talking about zebras, rhinos, flamingos, giraffes, elephants, cheetahs, hippos, goats, ostriches, crocodiles, etc.
As you can see, there are many animals in The Lion King, but the most representative correspond to species that are also surprising in the real world. Tell us, how many did you know?
