Which mammal is commonly cited as an apex predator in savanna ecosystems?

• A. Cheetah
• B. African lion
• C. Zebra
• D. Gazelle

Answer: (B)

An apex predator sits at the top of the food chain, with few or no natural enemies, and in savanna ecosystems the African lion is the classic example. Lions hunt in social groups, can take down large herbivores like zebras and gazelles, and their size, strength, and cooperative tactics give them outsized influence over prey populations and the structure of the ecosystem. This combination of power and relative lack of higher predators is what makes them widely described as the top predator in savannas.

Cheetahs are indeed skilled hunters, but they are often outcompeted or displaced by lions and hyenas, which prevents them from occupying the apex spot. Zebras and gazelles, meanwhile, are herbivores and prey species, not predators, so they sit lower on the food chain.