Tiger (lat. Panthera tigris ) - a predator of the class mammals, such as chordates, order Carnivora, cat family, panther genus, subfamilies big cats. It got its name from the ancient Persian word tigri, which means “sharp, fast,” and from the ancient Greek word “arrow.”
The tiger is the largest and heaviest member of the cat family. Some male tigers reach a length of 3 meters and weigh over 300 kg. Tigers are listed in the Red Book, and hunting these animals is prohibited.
Tiger: description and photographs
Tigers are distinguished by a flexible, muscular body and a round head with a convex forehead, expressive eyes and small but sensitive ears. Tigers see perfectly in the dark, and according to scientists, they can distinguish colors. Bengal and Amur tigers are the largest of their species. The size of these tigers can reach 2.5-2.9 meters in length (excluding the tail), and the weight of tigers of this species reaches 275-320 kg. The height of a tiger at the withers is 1.15 m. The average weight of an adult male is 180-250 kg.
According to official data, the record recorded weight of the big tiger(Bengali) was 388.7 kg.
Moreover, females are usually smaller than males in size.
Elastic tiger whiskers white grow in 4-5 rows, framing the tiger's face. With sharp fangs up to 8 cm long, the tiger easily deals with its prey.
Special keratinized protrusions on the side of the movable tongue help to cut the carcass of a killed animal, and also serve auxiliary hygiene. Adult mammals have 30 teeth.
There are 5 fingers on the front paws of a tiger, there are only 4 on the hind paws, and retractable claws are located on each finger.
Tiger ears are small and round in shape. The animal's pupil is round, the iris is yellow.
Southern tiger species have a short and dense body hairline, northern brothers are more fluffy.
The color of the animals is predominantly rust with a red or brown tint; the chest and belly are much lighter, and sometimes even white.
The tiger owes its exceptional beauty to the dark brown or completely black stripes located throughout the body. The tiger's stripes have characteristic pointed ends, sometimes bifurcating, then joining again. Typically an animal has more than 100 stripes.
The long tail, covered with rings of stripes, is always black at the end. A tiger's stripes are uniquely positioned, like a human fingerprint, and serve as excellent camouflage for the animal.
The track of a male tiger is longer and more elongated than that of a female. The length of the male tiger's track is 15-16 cm, the width is 13-14 cm. The length of the female tiger's track reaches 14-15 cm, and the width is 11-13 cm.
The roar of a tiger can be heard at a distance of almost 3 kilometers.
Despite their considerable weight, tigers can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h regardless of the surrounding landscape.
The lifespan of an animal in captivity is approximately 15 years.
Who is stronger - a lion or a tiger?
This question worries and interests many. Unfortunately, there are very few recorded facts about battles between a lion and a tiger, so there is no reason to talk about the superiority of one representative of the animal world over another. It is only possible to compare a tiger and a lion according to their external parameters and lifestyle.
- So, as for the weight category, although a little, about 50-70 kg, the tiger is still heavier than the lion.
- In terms of jaw compression force when biting, both animals are in the same positions.
- The principle of killing the chosen victim is also identical - both the tiger and the tiger bite into the neck of their prey, piercing it with powerful fangs.
- But in terms of lifestyle, these two predators are radically different. The tiger is a born solitary hunter who prefers to get food in his own “land”, that is, in a marked territory. Feuds between relatives are almost impossible, since tigers rarely intersect with each other during the hunt. Lions live in pride clans, so males often fight not only for the right to hunt, but also for the “lady of the heart” during mating games. Often such fights end with serious wounds and even the death of one of the lions.
- It is impossible to say with certainty who is more resilient - a lion or his striped brother from the cat family. Both animals run quite quickly, covering considerable distances, but such a criterion as endurance can be justified by the age of these predators, living conditions, or their state of health.
There are facts when trained lions fought with the same circus tigers. Mostly the lion emerged victorious from the battle, but again, this conclusion subjective, no one kept statistics, so you shouldn’t use such information as a 100% statement of superiority.
Both animals, the lion and the tiger, are very strong, powerful and perfectly adapted to their natural environment.
Subspecies of tigers, names, descriptions and photos
The classification identifies 9 subspecies of the tiger, 3 of which, unfortunately, have already disappeared from the face of the earth. Today in nature live:
- Amur (Ussuri) tiger (lat. Panthera tigris altaica)
The largest and smallest representative of the species, distinguished by thick fur and a relatively small number of stripes. The color of the Amur tiger is orange with a white belly, the fur is thick. The body length of males reaches 2.7 – 3.8 meters. The weight of a male Amur tiger is 180-220 kg. The height of the Amur tiger at the withers is 90-106 cm.
Population Ussuri tigers, numbering approximately 500 individuals, inhabits the Amur region of Russia. A number of individuals are found in North Korea and northeast China. The Amur tiger is listed in the Red Book of Russia.
- Bengal tiger (lat. Panthera tigris tigris, Panthera tigris bengalensis)
Characterized by largest number, representatives have a bright coat color from yellow to light orange. In nature, there are also white Bengal tigers that do not have stripes at all, but they are rather a mutated species. Length bengal tiger reaches 270-310 cm, females are smaller and reach a length of 240-290 cm. The tiger's tail is 85-110 cm long. The height at the withers is 90-110 cm. The weight of the Bengal tiger is from 220 to 320 kg as a maximum.
According to various sources, the population of this tiger species includes from 2.5 to 5 thousand individuals, most of who live in Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and South Asia.
Albino white tiger
- Indochinese tiger (lat. Panthera tigris corbetti)
It is distinguished by a dull red color and numbers a little more than a thousand individuals. The stripes of this species are narrower and shorter. This type of tiger is smaller in size than others. The length of the male is 2.55-2.85 cm, the length of the female is 2.30-2.55 cm. The weight of a male Indochinese tiger reaches 150-195 kg, the weight of a female tiger is 100-130 kg.
The area where Indochinese tigers live is Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Thailand, Southeast Asia, and Southern China.
- Malayan tiger (lat. Panthera tigris jacksoni)
The third largest subspecies in the number of individuals, living in the Malaysian, southern region of the Malay Peninsula.
This is the smallest tiger among all species. The length of a male Malayan tiger is 237 cm, the length of females is up to 200 cm. The weight of a male Malayan tiger is 120 kg, the weight of females does not exceed 100 kg. In total, there are about 600-800 tigers of this species in nature.
- Sumatran tiger (lat. Panthera tigris sumatrae)
It is also considered the smallest representative of the species. The length of a male tiger is 220-25 cm, the length of females is 215-230 cm. The weight of male tigers is 100-140 kg, the weight of females is 75-110 kg.
About 500 representatives are found in nature reserves on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia.
- South China tiger (Chinese tiger) (lat. Panthera tigris amoyensis)
A small subspecies, no more than 20 of these tigers live in captivity in the south and center of China.
The body length of males and females is 2.2-2.6 meters, the weight of males does not exceed 177 kg, the weight of females reaches 100-118 kg.
Extinct species are Bali tiger, Caspian tiger And Javan tiger.
In addition to white tigers, species with a yellow color are sometimes born; such animals are called golden tigers. The fur of such tigers is lighter and the stripes are brown.
Tiger hybrids
Hybrids, born from crossing the big tabby cat and other representatives of the panther genus, began to appear in captivity as early as the 19th century.
- Liger
Hybrid of a lion and a female tiger, has huge size and in mature age reaches three meters in length.
- Tigrolev (tigon)
A hybrid of a tiger and a lioness, always smaller than its parents and endowed with the characteristics of both: paternal stripes and maternal spots. Males have a mane, but it is smaller than that of a liger. 
Tigers and ligers are born exclusively in zoos. In the wild, tigers and lions do not interbreed.
Ussuri tigers live in Amur region in Russia, Khabarovsk and Primorsky territories, about 10% of the population is found in North Korea and northeast China. Bengal tigers live in Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and South Asia. The area where Indochinese tigers live is Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Thailand, Southeast Asia, and Southern China. The Malayan tiger lives in the southern part of the Malay Peninsula. Sumatran tigers are found in nature reserves on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. Chinese tigers live in south-central China.
For their habitats, these striped predators choose the most different zones: rain forests tropics, shady jungles, semi-desert regions and savannas, bamboo thickets and steep rocky hills. The tiger is so able to adapt to conditions that it feels great both in hot climates and in the harsh northern taiga. Steep cliffs with numerous niches or secret caves, secluded reed or reed thickets near water bodies are the most favorite territories where the tiger makes his lair, hunts and raises restless and nimble offspring.
Tiger's lifestyle and habits
Possessing quite massive dimensions and enormous strength, tigers feel like absolute masters of the territory in which they live. Leaving his marks with urine everywhere, stripping the bark from trees along the perimeter of his property and loosening the soil with his claws, the male tiger clearly marks his “land”, not allowing other males there.
At the same time, tigers from the same “family” are quite friendly to each other and sometimes behave very funny during communication: they touch their muzzles, rub their striped sides, “snort” noisily and energetically, while exhaling air through their mouths or nose.
In nature, tigers are most often solitary animals, but in zoos with these cats everything looks a little different. After the birth of a pair of offspring, the tiger-father takes care of the babies no less reverently than the tigress-mother: he spends leisure time with them during games, licks them and gently trembles in the form of punishment for the scruff of the neck. Watching the tiger family is really interesting.
IN natural environment tigers do not limit themselves to the time of day during the hunt - when they are hungry and prey has turned up, then the fatal throw for the victim will be made. By the way, the tiger is an excellent swimmer and will never refuse to eat fish,
The tiger is listed in the International Red Book, as well as in the Red Book of Russia.
Due to constant persecution by humans and unfavorable changes in habitat conditions, the number of tigers is continuously falling, and the distribution area is shrinking. The bulk of the tiger's range is in tropical and subtropical latitudes. Currently, this predator is preserved in the north of Iran, the north of Afghanistan, Hindustan (mainly in the north of the peninsula), Nepal, Burma, Thailand, Indochina, the Malacca Peninsula, Java, Bali, in some provinces of South and Northeast China, north of the Korean Peninsula. Within Russia, a small population of tigers (120-150 individuals) is found only in Far East, mainly in the Primorsky Territory, where about 110-130 animals were counted.
The Amur tiger is one of the largest subspecies of tiger. The largest recorded Amur tiger weighed 384 kilograms. average weight there are about 230 males, and 100-180 kilograms of females. This subspecies is distinguished by thick, long (compared to other tigers) and fluffy fur, with a more withered red background and fewer stripes than other subspecies.
Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)
Male Bengal tigers typically weigh between 205 and 227 kg, while females average 140 to 150 kg. Bengal tigers from northern India and Nepal are reliably larger than tigers from the south of the Indian subcontinent.
Indochinese tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti)
The Indochinese tiger (also known as Corbet's tiger) lives in Cambodia, southern China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam. The estimated size of its population varies in different sources from 1200 to 1800 animals, but an estimate closer to the lower value of this interval is more reliable. Largest population exists in Malaysia. Poaching in this country has been reduced to negligible levels by severe measures, but the tiger population is under significant threat through habitat fragmentation and inbreeding. In Vietnam, nearly three-quarters of tigers were killed to sell their organs for Chinese medicine.
The Indochinese tiger is smaller than the Bengal tiger and has darker colors. The weight of males averages 150-190 kg, females - 110-140 kg.
Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni)
The Malayan tiger is found exclusively in the southern (Malaysian) part of the Malay Peninsula. This subspecies was isolated only in 2004 during a study conducted by a group of scientists led by Stephen O'Bryan at the Laboratory of Genetic Diversity National Institute cancer (Frederick, USA). Before that, the population was considered to belong to the Indochinese tiger. The latest census showed the presence of 600-800 tigers of this subspecies in nature, which makes it the third largest among the tiger subspecies, after the Bengal and Indochinese. The Malayan tiger is national symbol Malaysia, where it is present on the country's coat of arms, emblems of various government agencies (for example, the Bank of Malaysia), emblems of army units and units special purpose, etc.
Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae)
The Sumatran tiger is found only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Number wild population estimated at 400-500 animals, the vast majority of which live on the territory national parks and nature reserves. Recent genetic studies have shown the presence of unique genetic markers in the genotype of the subspecies; this is a sign that, on the basis of this subspecies, it may develop over time separate species felines (if the subspecies is not destroyed). Based on this, many scientists believe that the Sumatran tiger is more worthy of conservation than any of the other subspecies.
The main threat to the Sumatran tiger is destruction environment(deforestation occurs even in the highly protected areas of Sumatra), and between 1998 and 2000, 66 tigers (or 20% of the population) were killed by poachers.
The Sumatran tiger is the smallest subspecies currently existing: the weight of adult males is 100-130 kg, females - 70-90 kg. The relatively small size of this subspecies is considered an adaptation to life in dense tropical forest.
South China tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis)
The South China tiger is the most endangered subspecies, and most likely no longer exists in the wild. It is also one of the smallest subspecies: the body length of both males and females is 2.2-2.6 m. Males weigh from 127 to 177 kg, females - from 100 to 118.
In 1977, the Chinese government passed a law banning tiger hunting, but it was too late for the South China subspecies. Apparently, the last South China tiger in the wild was shot in 1994.
There are currently 59 South China tigers in captivity (all in China), but they are all descendants of just six animals. Thus, the genetic diversity in this subspecies is extremely low, making its extinction natural conditions quite reliable.
Extinct tiger subspecies
Bali tiger (Panthera tigris balica)
The Bali tiger has always been found only on the small island of Bali. These tigers were hunted to extinction: the last Balinese tiger (a large female) was killed in the western part of the island (Sumbar Kama) on September 27, 1937. Balinese tigers have never been kept in captivity. Despite the complete disappearance of the local subspecies, the tiger plays important role in the Balinese version of Hinduism.
Turanian tiger (Panthera tigris virgata)
The Caspian (Turanian, Persian) tiger lived in Central Asia in the forests along river valleys and was separated from other populations. In the 1920s the population of these animals began to decline due to active hunting for them, reduction of habitats, and a decrease in the amount of available food. The last Caspian tiger was killed in February 1970 in the Turkish province of Hakkari.
The historical range of this subspecies included Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Turkey. The Caspian tiger was a large subspecies, reaching the weight and size parameters of the Bengal tiger: the heaviest male recorded weighed 240 kg. The background color of the skin was approximately the same as that of the Indian subspecies, but the stripes were noticeable narrower and more dense, dark gray or brown rather than black. The fur of the Caspian tiger was long (relative to other subspecies), especially in winter. The Caspian tiger, along with the Bengal, was one of two subspecies used by the Romans in gladiatorial combat against gladiators and other animals such as Barbary lions.
In January 2009, an article on the Caspian tiger was published in the journal PLoS ONE by a group of scientists from Britain, Israel and the United States. It said that deciphering the genome of a person who disappeared in the 1970s. The Caspian tiger showed that it belongs to almost the same species as the Amur tiger - this opens up the possibility of restoring the population of this animal.
Javan tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica)
The Javan tiger lived on the Indonesian island of Java. Apparently, this subspecies was destroyed in the 80s. twentieth century through hunting and habitat destruction, but extinction became extremely likely starting in the 1950s, when the number of tigers in Java dropped to 25 individuals. The last Javan tiger was seen in the wild in 1979.
The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources
The number of rare predators in the wild has increased from 3,200 to 3,890 individuals. Such data was published on April 11 by WWF and the intergovernmental organization Global Tiger Forum.
According to the latest data, the largest number of tigers live in India - 2226 individuals, Russia (see details below), Indonesia - 371, Malaysia - 250, Nepal - 198, Thailand - 189. Other countries of the “tiger” range include Bangladesh, Bhutan, Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Laos and Myanmar.
The increase in the number of tigers is explained by a number of reasons. Firstly, the actual increase in the number of predators associated with increased protection of the species and its habitats. An increase in the number of tigers has been noted in Russia, India, Nepal and Bhutan. Secondly, in five countries in 2013-2015. censuses of predators were carried out, which made it possible to clarify the data on their number.
"For the first time in last decades The number of tigers is not decreasing, but growing. This gives us hope and shows that when the authorities, local residents and experts in the field of nature conservation join forces, we can save rare species and their habitats"— emphasized Marco Lambertini, CEO WWF International Secretariat.
Nevertheless, environmentalists continue to talk about the need to strengthen tiger protection: over the past 100 years, the number of predators in the wild has decreased by 97% (from 100 to 3.5 thousand animals). There is an active illegal trade in derivatives (body parts) of tigers. According to calculations by the TRAFFIC organization, law enforcement agencies different countries in 2000-2014 recorded more than 1,500 illegal trade transactions involving tiger derivatives.
According to WWF, the situation is now particularly alarming in South-East Asia. If the governments of the countries in this region do not make efforts, tigers in this area may disappear from wildlife.
In Russia the total number Amur tigers, according to 2015 census data, ranges from 523 to 540 individuals. Of these, there are about 430 adult predators. In 1996, the population consisted of approximately 415-476 individuals.
“We are proud that our country is making a significant contribution to increasing tiger numbers. Such success became possible, among other things, thanks to more than 20 years of focused work by the Ministry of Natural Resources, WWF and other organizations in the Russian Far East.”, noted the director of WWF Russia Igor Chestin.
Data on the number of the predator was presented on the eve of the opening of the III Intergovernmental Conference on tiger conservation. The meeting will take place from April 12 to 14 in Delhi, India.
The previous estimate of the number of the rare animal in the world was prepared for the 2010 Tiger Summit, which was held in St. Petersburg. At the same time, the main goal was formulated - to double the number of tigers to 6,000 by 2022.
The Amur tiger, also called the Ussuri tiger, is the northernmost and largest representative of these animals in the world. Moreover, this the only kind among these predators, adapted to survive in conditions harsh winter, a symbol of the Far East, with the smallest number of individuals among all other species of tabby cats.
General information
Listed in the Red Book, the Amur tiger prefers to lead single image life. He hunts with great skill. Primarily on large animals such as wild boars, roe deer and deer, although sometimes it can also eat smaller animals such as rodents and even amphibians, and also feast on fish.
As the name of this species suggests, the striped predator lives along the Ussuri and Amur rivers in the foothills of the Sikhote-Alin in the Russian Far East. A small number of them, only about 10% of total number, is located in China. They do not live long, only about 15 years.
In the middle of the 19th century, the striped predator was the absolute king of the taiga. About 1,000 animals lived in the Far East, although at that time almost no one cared about the question of how many Amur tigers remained. About a hundred of them were exterminated annually. In addition, their natural habitat a habitat. This led to the fact that by the 30s of the twentieth century there were less than a hundred of these animals left on the territory of the USSR.
Ussuri tiger today
In the turbulent 90s for our country, a number of people became concerned with the problem of preserving the population of striped beauties international organizations, in particular the World Wildlife Fund or WWF. Programs adopted two decades ago provided for the achievement and maintenance of this species at a level of 450 individuals.
To date, environmental protection measures and public involvement in this problem have stabilized the situation. The Amur tiger population reached about 500 individuals in 2014. A special role in achieving such brilliant results was played by the actively supported current president Russian Federation Vladimir Putin program “Amur Tiger”.
Another representative of the cat, the Sumatran tiger, is also on the verge of extinction.
This program is designed to continue the study of the main predators of the east and to develop a further plan for optimal coexistence between humans and tigers in the Far East. The use of special cameras, satellite collars and genetic studies of these animals every year makes it possible to penetrate deeper into their world hidden from human eyes and to understand them better.
How can you help?
Today, everyone can contribute to maintaining numbers Ussuri tiger, for example, by making a donation on the official website of WWF Russia or by taking part in their “Adopt a Tiger Cub” program.
In addition, to attract as many more people to the problem of the extinction of this species in Russia, Amur Tiger Day was introduced. It has been celebrated since 2001 on the last Sunday of September. The most large-scale events take place in the city of Vladivostok. Year after year, the celebration attracts more and more interest among the general public and attracts more people to the problem of the Far Eastern tiger population.
Scientists and “green” people are very puzzled by the issue of animal protection today; many such holidays have already been introduced, for example, there is Walrus Day.
Active human agricultural activity and the renewal of the number of tigers in the Far Eastern region pose more and more complex questions to scientists and ecologists, the answers to which should be the peaceful and balanced coexistence of striped predators and people, as well as the preservation and maintenance of their numbers at the proper level.
Of all the representatives of this family living on our planet. The largest representative This species is the Amur tiger. It is also called the Ussuri or Far Eastern tiger.
Representative of the Amur tiger
Tiger Habitat
This subspecies currently lives only in Russia. In the recent past, it was also common in China. Despite the provisions for poaching death penalty, there the tiger was almost completely destroyed. There are up to a hundred individuals left in the northern part of China, bordering our territory.
In the habitats of the Amur tiger, it is considered the king of the taiga, because there is no predator that can compete with it. This subspecies of tiger is generally the most dangerous predator on the ground. The power and strength of this beast is amazing; the deer it kills, whose weight can be hundreds of kilograms, is capable of dragging more than a kilometer. In hungry years, even bears sometimes become the target of tigers.
The tiger is first and foremost a predator Tigers are territorial animals. Each individual has its own individual territory, which it guards and regularly marks. The areas of males and females often overlap, which makes it easier to find a partner during the mating period. The territory controlled by one adult and strong male may overlap with the territories of several females at once. Fierce fights occur with alien males.
Animal lifestyle
Tigresses most often give birth to 2 cubs. They live with their mother for 2 years, after which they begin to hunt on their own. The first months of life, the cubs eat their mother's milk; from the age of 2 months, they begin to eat pieces of meat brought by the tigress from her prey. Over time, she begins to lead them to prey, teaching them to tear apart the victim on their own. Having matured and learned to get food, young tiger cubs live on the borders of adult tigers. After 4 years, they learn to live individually and begin searching for their own plot.
Mother with tiger cub The tiger prefers to hunt in the daytime, but can go out in search of prey at night. Its main prey are wild boars, deer, and wapiti. He can also hunt musk deer, roe deer, and even hares. In one sitting he can eat a lot a large number of meat. The tiger will eat roe deer and musk deer in one go; the animal hides the half-eaten carcass of a deer or large wild boar and eats it later.
The predator obtains prey mainly from ambush, but sometimes hunts by concealing the prey. To do this, he silently creeps up to her and at the last moment makes a swift throw. His sharp claws and long fangs complete the job, with which he kills and tears his prey into pieces.
White Amur tiger Thanks to the efforts made by the leadership of the Russian Federation, the Amur tiger is excluded from the category of endangered animals. The possibility of relocating tigers to the territory of Yakutia is currently being considered. This the most beautiful predator saved from extinction.
Amur tiger makes friends with a goat
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