The Tiger

Scientific Name: Panthera tigris
IUCN Status: Endangered
Weight: 165-600 pounds

Description:

The tiger is the world’s largest cat. The tiger is traditionally classified into 9 subspecies (Bengal, Siberian-largest at 13ft or 4m long from head to tail, Sumatran-critically endangered, Mayan, Indochinese, South China-extinct in the wild) , 3 of which are extinct (Javan, Balinese, Caspian).  The tiger’s ground color varies from pale yellow to rich red with white underparts.  They are the only cats that are all striped with black, brown, or blond stripes. Though rare, the white tiger is a naturally occurring color variant of the Bengal subspecies and they are no longer found in the wild.

Prey:

The tiger is an immensely powerful predator, adapted to overpower prey as large or larger than itself.  Tigers typically focus on ungulates and wild boar.

Biology:

Tigers are are year round breeders.  Gestation lasts 95-107 days with a litter size of 2-5 cubs.