Tigers

The tiger is the largest member of the cat family found in the wild. It is native to much of eastern and southern Asia. The word “tiger” is taken from the Greek word “tigris”, which is possibly derived from a Persian source meaning “arrow” – a reference to the animal’s speed and also the origin for the name of the Tigris River.

There are currently six subspecies of tigers, including (in descending order of wild population) the Bengal Tiger, the Indochinese Tiger, the Malayan Tiger, the Sumatran Tiger, the Siberian tiger, and the South China Tiger. All of these subspecies are endangered, with several of them being very close to extinction.

The tiger’s life expectancy is between 10 and 15 years in the wild and more than 20 years in captivity.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The size of tigers varies based on their subspecies. The largest member of the tiger family is the Siberian Tiger, which can attain lengths of more than nine feet (with a further 3 or more feet if you include the tail) and weights of well over 600 pounds. Sumatran Tigers are the smallest subspecies, with adult males weighing between 220 and 310 pounds and females about 25% smaller.

Tigers typically have rusty-reddish to brown-rusty coats that fade to white on the underbody with a white “fringe” surrounding the face. Their stripes vary from brown or gray to pure black, and the density of these stripes varies between subspecies. The stripes help to function as camouflage, allowing the tigers to conceal themselves amongst the dappled shadows and long grass of their environment.

Like other big cats, tigers have a white spot on the backs of their ears. These spots, called ocelli, are thought to serve a social function, by communicating the animal’s mental state to other tigers in the gloom of the dense forest or in tall grass.

HABITAT

Historically, tigers have existed from Mesopotamia and the Caucasus throughout most of South and East Asia. Today, the range of the species is radically reduced. Tiger habitats will usually include sufficient cover, proximity to water, and an abundance of prey. The tiger is a very strong swimmer, often found bathing in pools, lakes, and rivers. They are also able to carry prey long distances through the water.

BEHAVIOR

Tigers are thought to be nocturnal predators, but, in areas where humans are absent, they have been observed hunting during the daylight hours via remote cameras. They generally hunt alone and ambush their prey as most other cats do, using their body size and strength to knock large prey off balance.

A tiger’s diet will vary depending upon the availability of prey in their region. The Bengal Tigers in India will mostly feed on larger and medium-sized animals such as sambar, wild boar, and both water buffalo and domestic buffalo. The Siberian Tiger’s main prey species include wapiti, wild boar, moose, and musk deer. The smaller species will often eat much smaller prey, such as monkeys, peafowls, hares, and fish.

Tigers utilize a variety of vocalizations to communicate over long distances, including roaring, moaning, and chuffing. A tiger’s roar may be heard from distances of more than two miles. A tiger’s moan is more of a subdued roar and is usually made while tigers are calmly walking with their heads in a downward position. A tiger’s chuff is a friendly vocalization used primarily for greetings and is only audible at close range.