Panthera tigris (tiger)

Introduction

Tigers are the largest living felids of which Siberian tigers are the largest subspecies. The tiger's physique reflects adaptations for capture & killing of large prey. Tigers hunt alone.

Range: India, Manchuria, China, Indonesia

Habitat:

Varied, including tropical rain forest, snow covered coniferous & deciduous forests, mangrove swamps & drier forest types.

Diet:

Typical prey include sambar, chital, Swamp deer, Red deer, Rusa deer & wild pigs.

Size: Indian tiger: male: head to tail 2.7-3.1 m (8.8-10.2 ft) shoulder height 91 cm (3 ft) weight 180-260 kg (396-573 lb) female: head to tail 2.4-2.8 m (7.8-9.4 ft) weight 130-160 kg (287-353 lb)

Gestation: 103 days

Longevity: about 15 years (20 years in captivity)

Eight subspecies were described, originally (second half of 19th century) ranging from eastern Turkey to Java to northeastern China and Russia:

• Panthera tigris tigris (Indian tiger)
• Panthera tigris corbetti (Indochinese tiger)
• Panthera tigris amoyensis (South Chinese tiger)
• Panthera tigris virgata (Caspian tiger)
• Panthera tigris altaica (Siberian tiger)
• Panthera tigris sumatrae (Sumatran tiger)
• Panthera tigris sondaica (Javan tiger)

Panthera tigris balica (Balinese tiger)

P. t. balica is extinct.

P. t. amoyensis & virgata are possibly extinct

More general terms

• Panthera