Blue Tiger. Does the Maltese blue tiger really exist? Life in captivity
The Maltese, or blue tiger, is a legendary large cat with tiger-like stripes, most commonly reported from the Fujian province of China. This striking animal is said to have bluish fur with dark gray stripes.
The term "Maltese" refers to the blue fur of domestic cats, which is actually a bluish-gray shade. In Malta you can find many cats with a similar color, which perhaps gives such meaning to the adjective “Maltese”. Be that as it may, blue tigers have nothing to do with the island of Malta.
Harry R. Caldwell, an American Methodist missionary and big game hunter who killed dozens of big cats during his time in China, saw and pursued blue tiger in southeastern China, which he described in his book “The Blue Tiger” (1924).
In September 1910, Caldwell was in Fujian province, in the vicinity of Fuzhou, doing a very prosaic task - he was looking after a goat. Caldwell noticed the tiger, but at first glance it seemed to him to be a leaning peasant in a blue jacket. As Caldwell later wrote in his book: “Suddenly I saw a huge tiger’s head above what seemed to me to be blue peasant clothes. As it turned out, I was looking at the chest and belly of the beast.” Caldwell grabbed the gun, but realized that he could not shoot - there were local children around - while he was changing position, the tiger disappeared.
Then Caldwell’s hunting companion, Roy Chapman Andrews, quoted him as follows in his book Halts and Campaigns in China (1925, Chapter VII): “The coloring of this animal is strikingly beautiful. The main color is a deep shade of Maltese, turning into a light gray-blue on the belly. Against this background, stripes were clearly visible, the same as those of an ordinary yellow tiger.”
The peasants confirmed that “black devils” were indeed roaming around the village. Together with his son John, Caldwell repeatedly organized expeditions in search of the blue tiger, which he nicknamed “Bluebeard,” but they all ended in failure, although John several times found scraps of Maltese-colored fur on the branches of trees and bushes.
Maybe, maltese tigers were a subspecies South China tiger, which is now under threat of extinction, so that individuals with “blue” alleles (forms of the gene) could have completely disappeared from the face of the earth. Encouragingly, reports of blue tigers have also come from Burma (Myanmar) and Korea, the motherland of Amur tigers. The famous British zoologist and cryptozoologist Carl Shuker cited in his book “The Mysterious Cats of the World” (1989) the story of the son of a US Army soldier who served in Korea during Korean War. His father is sure that he saw exactly the blue tiger in the mountains, not far from where the demilitarized zone is now located.
Rationale for blue
Unfortunately, there is still no solid evidence of the existence of the blue tiger - there are no reports from experts, not a single photograph or video. Although Caldwell was a very reliable eyewitness, just one report cannot be used to prove the existence of an animal. In any case, experts are quite skeptical about such evidence, some even believe that Maltese tigers are ordinary orange tigers rolling around in the mud.Artistic depiction of a Maltese tiger
But black tigers were also considered a myth for a long time, and several skins found proved that melanistic tigers really exist. Such tigers are not completely black, their black stripes are much wider than usual, so the main orange almost invisible.
The theory of the existence of the blue tiger is supported by the fact that Maltese-colored cats are not at all uncommon. There are known breeds of domestic cats, such as the Russian Blue, various British Shorthairs, and the British Blue. Blue lynxes are also found. Some genetic mutations and their combinations can cause bluish tint, or, by at least, the impression is that the animal's fur is bluish-gray in color. Shuker believed that blue tigers possessed two pairs of recessive alleles, the non-agouti and the degenerate gene, which combine to produce a stable bluish-gray color in domestic cats, although it is not clear then where the stripes came from in the tigers seen.
A simple combination of a non-agouti and a degenerate gene could indeed produce a blue-gray or "Maltese" tiger, but in such an animal the stripes would be subtle or non-existent: in ordinary tigers the genes "switch" clearly between agoutis ( orange) and non-agouti (black) in different parts of their fur. Due to the non-agouti mutation, tigers would likely appear similar to black panthers, the coloring of which is “ghostly”, that is, the entire skin of the panthers is black, but the fur inside the leopard spots has a different structure, so the “black-on-black” spots are visible with appropriate lighting. Combined with more weakened alleles, the color would be gray, but again the tiger would be either solid or "ghostly" striped.
In order for the fur to be Maltese tabby, pheomelanin production must be suppressed (to replace orange with grey) but agouti must be retained (for striping). Most likely, melanism is also present here, because, as Caldwell reported, the tiger's belly was not pure white. A similar genotype is known in cheetahs: it causes their fur to become bluish-gray with a dark gray slate pattern.
In small, or isolated populations, genetic drift can cause unusual traits, such as abnormal coloration, and if the mutation is not harmful, it can spread quickly. Now, apparently, only a few (if any) of these tigers remain in the wild. If you estimate the number of observations, the population may consist of about 30 of these amazing animals.
Today, the blue tiger remains one of the most mysterious big cats in the world.
June 30th, 2013 , 09:58 pm
We all know that the tiger is a fiery cat with black stripes, we also know about the beautiful white Bengal tigers - snow-white with black stripes. What do we know about golden, black and Maltese tigers? Today I will tell you about them :)
Golden Tiger
The golden tiger is the most rare color variation caused by a recessive gene. Such representatives of tigers differ slightly from their relatives large size and softer golden fur with orange stripes, black stripes can only be seen on some individuals at the tip of the tail. There is a version that the development of this type coloration gradually developed in a group of tigers, one of whose representatives possessed a recessive gene for golden color and periodically interbred with its offspring. The color that appeared served as additional camouflage for such tigers living in areas rich in clay soils. On at the moment There are about 30 golden tigers in captivity.
Black Tiger
Black tiger - rare color variation tiger, which is not a separate species or geographical subspecies. Black tigers are named because of pseudomelanosis. The black stripes of pseudomelanistic tigers are so close together that the background color is barely visible between them. For a long time black tigers were considered a myth, however, several skins have proven that pseudo-melanists exist. Melanistic tigers, unlike black tigers, are uniformly black without stripes. Melanistic tiger was captured only once; now this image is lost.
Maltese (blue) tiger
Artistic representation of a Maltese tiger
The existence of the Maltese (blue) tiger has not been proven, but reports of encounters with it periodically come from the Chinese province of Fujian and Korea. Based on these reports, the tiger has bluish fur with dark gray stripes. Possibly due to illegal hunting of tigers in China, the blue variety of tigers has become completely extinct. Around 1910, Harry Caldwell, an American missionary and big game hunter, was hunting a blue tiger in the vicinity of Fuzhou. His search is described in the book “The Blue Tiger” by Roy Chapen Andrews (1924): “The color of the animal is strikingly beautiful. The main color has a delicate Maltese tint, changing to a light gray-blue towards the bottom. The stripes stand out clearly, like an ordinary yellow tiger.” . A later report of a Maltese tiger came from a US military personnel during the Korean campaign. A soldier saw a blue tiger in the mountains near the demilitarized zone. This meeting is described in the book “Mysterious Cats of the World” by Karl Shuker. There have also been reports of blue tigers from Burma.
White Bengal tigers have black and brown stripes on their white fur and blue eyes. This coloration is very rare among wild animals, but is often common in captive populations. Only one is born per 10,000 tigers white. The first mention of a white tiger dates back to 1951, when one of the hunters found a tigress in the lair white tiger cub. This tiger was crossed with a female of normal color, who gave birth to 4 red tiger cubs. The white tiger was then bred with one of his daughters, and in a litter of three cubs, two turned out to be white. Thus, all white tigers kept in captivity are descendants of one individual. There are currently about 130 white tigers in zoos.
White Bengal tiger is not an albino. Albino tiger has no black stripes at all.
The Age of Geographical Discovery was filled with the spirit of exploration, and encounters with unusual animals aroused admiration and amazement. Currently in human consciousness the idea has become stronger that all the territories of our vast planet have been studied, and mysterious creatures described by scientists. Many people believe that it is now extremely problematic to open new look or prove the existence of extraordinary creatures.
What if we imagine that the world is much bigger? And some animals are a mystery to humans! By the way, one of them is the Maltese tiger - a species not recognized by official science.
The blue tiger, as they are also called, is an almost mythical creature: after all, apart from eyewitness accounts, there is no other evidence.
To date, people have not been able to find either the animal, its body, or even a photo. However, from time to time, witness reports come from Fujian, China, Korea and Burma. This is where, according to local residents, the blue tiger is most often seen.
Description of appearance
The name "Maltese" tiger acquired only because they were seen on this island more than in other areas.
The appearance of tigers is striking and delightful at the same time: their fur has a grayish-bluish tint, and the stripes on the body are black, clearly defined.
Observations by Harry Caldwell
The first reports of the Maltese tiger appeared in 1910. Harry R. Caldwell, an American hunter and missionary, traveled to China.
His passion was big cats: While traveling around the country, he killed more than ten. But the blue tiger was caught only once.
Seeing him in the vicinity of Fuzhou, Caldwell mistook him for a peasant in blue clothes, bending over the ground. But after some time he saw the head of a tiger.
Harry couldn't shoot because there were children nearby. Trying to avoid dangerous situations, changing positions and waiting for an opportunity, the American hunter missed the unusual animal.
After this meeting, Harry Caldwell's dream became the opportunity to shoot a blue cat and get its skin. He repeatedly organized expeditions with his son John, but they were unable to find anything other than a few scraps of wool.
According to local residents, they also met the Maltese tiger, calling it the “blue devil.”
Richard Perry and Roy Andrews
In his book The World of Tigers, R. Perry confirmed that the blue tiger is a real creature, and they were regularly seen in China. And she received the nickname “blue devil” because she attacked people, killing them.
Another book in which these tigers were mentioned was published by Roy Andrews, already known to us. The seventh chapter of the travel diary, published in 1918, contains references to this mythical animal.
How real is the Maltese tiger?
Unfortunately, the testimony of witnesses and eyewitnesses alone is not enough to officially register this magnificent cat. But, alas, there is no material evidence: no photos, no videos, no animal skins.
However, there are several facts that can support the possibility of the existence maltese tigers.
Interesting fact. In 1960, an unusual tiger was born at the Oklahoma State Zoo: its skin had a silver-gray tint and rich black stripes. It is said that the feline lived to an old age, and after his death a stuffed animal was made. It is this fact that allows some scientists not to doubt the reality of Maltese tigers.
Most skeptics refuse to believe in the existence of the blue tiger. But it is understandable: there is nothing more than Caldwell’s words.
Unfortunately, the answer to this question remains a mystery at the moment. It is unknown whether the Maltese tiger has survived in nature as a species or has become extinct completely.
It is also not worth expecting that cryptozoologists will soon discover evidence: more than a dozen years may pass. Perhaps this tiger will remain a legendary creature on a par with the black lion or blue cheetah.
Rare and unusual tigers world September 7th, 2010
This year's symbol is the tiger. As you know, this is the most big representative the cat family that lives in Asia. Tigers can reach 4 meters in length and weigh up to 384 kilograms.
Today I want to tell you a little about the most amazing tigers that are found on Earth.
Maltese tiger
The unique Maltese tiger is the most... rare species tigers in the world. It is also known as the blue tiger. Habitat: Fuzhian Province, China. According to eyewitnesses, this cat has bluish fur with dark gray stripes. The term "Maltese" comes from felinologist (cat lovers) terminology for blue fur and refers to the bluish-gray coloring of the animals.
Most reported Maltese tigers are of the South China subspecies. About existence blue tigers also reported from Myanmar and South Korea.
Heterozygous golden tiger
The unique heterozygous golden tiger is the second most rare tiger in the world after the Maltese tiger. A heterozygous golden tiger is like other golden tigers except for one important aspect– this tiger has a recessive gene responsible for its white color.
Golden striped tiger
A very unusual gold striped tiger light golden wool, pale paws and dim orange stripes. Its fur is much thicker than that of ordinary tigers. This color of tigers is found only in 30 animals living in captivity, and it is caused by a recessive gene. This is a type of color, not separate species these cats. These tigers are also larger in size than ordinary tigers and are of Bengal origin, like their closest relatives - white tigers.
White Tiger
White tigers are very rare in wildlife, but have become often bred in zoos due to their popularity. This is one of the most beautiful animals in the world. It is easy to distinguish not only by white color, but also by blue eyes and a pink nose. White tigers usually live shorter lives than their red counterparts. It is worth noting that white tigers are not albino. A white tiger can be born if both of its parents had a rare gene found only in white tigers. It has been estimated that this gene occurs only once every 10,000 litters. White tigers are also not a separate subspecies, but only differ in color from their relatives - bengal tigers, from which they come.
Liger (English liger from English lion - “lion” and English tiger - “tiger”)
a hybrid between a male lion and a female tigress, looking like giant lion with blurry stripes. Appearance and similar in size to those extinct in the Pleistocene cave lion and his relative the American lion. Ligers are the largest big cats in the world today. The largest liger is Hercules from the interactive theme park Jungle Island. Male ligers, with rare exceptions, have almost no mane, but unlike lions, ligers know how and love to swim. Another feature of ligers is that female ligers can give birth to offspring, which is unusual for feline hybrids. The extraordinary gigantism of ligers is due to the fact that ligers receive genes from their lion father that promote the growth of their offspring, while the tiger mother does not have genes that inhibit the growth of their offspring. While the tiger father does not have genes that promote growth, the lioness mother has genes that inhibit growth, which are passed on to her offspring. This explains the fact that liger is larger than a lion, and a tiger lion is smaller than a tiger.
In Russia, one ligress is kept in the Novosibirsk Zoo and the other in the Lipetsk Zoo. Ligers can also be seen at performances of the Great Moscow State Circus (2009).
Tigrolev (also tigon or tigon, English tigon: from English tiger “tiger” and lion “lion”)
a hybrid of a male tiger and a female lioness. Currently, tigons are not as familiar as their counterparts, ligers, although in late XIX- at the beginning of the 20th century the situation was the opposite. Tigons are never found in nature, since tigers and lions have different habits, manners and distribution areas.
Tigons combine the characteristics of both parents: they can have spots from their mother (lion genes are responsible for spots - lion cubs are born spotted) and stripes from their father. The tigon's mane, if it appears, will always be shorter than the mane of a lion. Tigons are typically smaller than lions and tigers and weigh around 150 kg.
Male tigons are always sterile, while females are not.
The Maltese blue tiger is practically mythical creature, since, apart from eyewitness accounts, there is no evidence of its existence. To today people were unable to find this animal either dead or alive, there are not even photographs. Although from time to time there are reports from the Chinese province of Fujian, as well as from Korea and Burma about the appearance of a tiger. Despite the name, the animal has nothing to do with Malta. It's all about the color of his coat. According to eyewitnesses' descriptions, the predator has dark gray stripes with bluish fur.
It just so happens that domestic cats with a bluish-gray hue are called Maltese, because there are so many of them on the island. For the first time about unusual predator the world learned from missionary and hunter Harry R. Caldwell. An American killed a dozen big cats during his trip to China, but the Maltese blue tiger did not succumb to him, but only teased him and disappeared, like a ghostly vision. According to Caldwell, he saw the animal in the vicinity of Fuzhou. At first he mistook him for a bending peasant in blue clothes, but then he saw the head of a tiger. The hunter could not shoot right away, because children were running nearby, and while he was trying it on and changing position, the predator ran away.
The Maltese blue tiger has been encountered and local residents. The Chinese claimed that “black devils” really roamed near the villages. Caldwell and his son repeatedly organized expeditions to search for this mysterious animal; they even managed to find scraps of its fur on the branches of bushes, but nothing more. The Maltese tiger has a very beautiful wool. The main color is bluish-gray, on the belly it is slightly lighter, against this background the black stripes are very clearly visible.
Most likely, this is a subspecies of the South China tiger, which is on the verge of extinction. It is likely that individuals with a similar color could have completely disappeared from the face of the earth, although reports of their appearance appear from time to time. Many skeptics do not believe that the Maltese blue tiger exists, because there is no evidence. Caldwell is not a liar, but there are still no photographs or expert testimony. Some researchers believe that people might have mistook the Maltese for an ordinary yellow tiger wallowing in the mud.
The fact of the existence of such an animal cannot be openly denied. The Maltese Blue Tiger can be produced by a combination of the degeneracy gene and the non-agouti gene. Of course, this is very difficult, since such predators would be practically black or gray with barely visible stripes. However, nothing is impossible in nature, because big black cats were also considered a fiction and a myth for a long time until their skin was discovered. Melanistic animals do exist, and the Maltese tiger may be one of them.
No one has yet been able to take a photo of the predator, but it should be recognized that in some isolated populations genetic drift can provoke abnormal coat color. If the mutation has no effect negative influence on the development of the animal, the species is able to spread quite quickly. If Maltese tigers exist, there are no more than three dozen of them.