I have never wanted to play as just a lion or a wolf.... I like to play as a variety of species. And of course, like most people on here have said, most players are more familiar with lions and wolves rather than coyotes, cougars, cheetahs, etc.
I have very few wolf characters and NO lion characters (for now). I like to play as animals that I don't see too often on FH. I have had the following characters: thylacines, maned wolves, bobcats, foxes, skunks, raccoon dogs, warrahs (Falkland Island wolf), bears, etc.