The tiger (Panthera tigris) is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to 3.3 m, and weighing up to 308 kg! Their canines are the longest among living felids with a crown height of as much as 7.5 cm.
There are nine subspecies of tiger, three of which are extinct. The remaining six tiger subspecies have been classified as endangered by IUCN. Major reasons for population decline include habitat destruction, habitat fragmentation and poaching. The global population in the wild is estimated to number between 3,052 to 3,950 individuals, with most remaining population occurring in small pockets that are isolated from each other.
Tigers have round pupils and yellow irises (except for the blue eyes of white tigers). Due to a retinal adaptation that reflects light back to the retina, the night vision of tigers is six times better than that of humans.
No one knows exactly why tigers are striped, but scientists think that the stripes act as camouflage, and help tigers hide from their prey. The Sumatran tiger has the most stripes of all the tiger subspecies, and the Siberian tiger has the fewest stripes. Tiger stripes are like human fingerprints; no two tigers have the same pattern of stripes.
Like domestic cats, tiger claws are retractable. Tiger scratches on trees serve as territorial markers.
A cross between a male lion and a tigress is called Liger.
A cross between a lioness and a male tiger is called Tigon.
The roar of a tiger can be heard more than a mile away.
The Bengal tiger is the national animal of Bangladesh and India.
Tigers may drag their prey to water to eat. They are commonly seen in the shade or wading in pools to cool off.
The tigers in the pictures are Bengal tigers.
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Lovely pictures!
SvarSlett