The wildest big cat in the world is the tiger. The largest wild cats in the world
Felines are unsurpassed hunters. They are rightfully considered very dangerous and skilled predators. This is not surprising, because for wild cats hunting is the only way to survive in natural conditions. How often do we sometimes forget that the fluffy white cat who sleeps on the couch with us is... close relative such dangerous and untamed animals as a tiger or a lion.
The first cats
The cat family begins its history in the distant past prehistoric times. About 70 million years ago, the era of dinosaurs ended on earth, and the first mammals took their place. Evolution has led to the division of animals into herbivores and predators. Both of them had to go through a considerable development path in order to survive to our times.
Miacids are a successfully developed branch of predatory animals, which, according to scientists, appeared 65-34 million years ago. It is believed that they became the progenitors of all 11 existing families of carnivores (Canidae, Mustelidae, Bearidae and others, including the Feline family that interests us).
Miacids had small in size, had a long tail and short legs, which allowed them to easily move both on the ground and in trees. Their development rightly allowed them to be considered the top ancient predators.
The “real” ancient cat appeared about 25 million years ago; its size corresponded to the modern lynx. Her name is pseudoailurus, important feature Its development is considered to be the ability to move on the toes, thanks to which the animal acquired the ability to silently sneak up on victims. One more important event in its evolution can be called the appearance of sharp fangs, characteristic of all cats.
This is where it comes from modern family Feline. In subsequent millennia, the ancient cat went through many stages of formation before reaching our times in its current form. Many of these forms could not withstand the competition and disappeared from the face of the earth. Among them were saber tooth tigers, extinct relatively recently - only 8 thousand years ago. Unfortunately, in our time, due to the fault of humans, many predators of the cat family are endangered. Because of valuable fur people have sharply reduced their populations.
Diversity
The cat family is truly diverse and diverse. Representatives have noticeable differences in habits, physiology, color and size. The smallest representative of the family is considered to be rusty
Her maximum size reaches 48 cm (body length), tail - 25 cm, and weight large males barely reaches 1.5 kg. How can this small animal compete with the most great representative felines - a tiger, whose weight reaches 300 kg and length - 380 cm (including a tail of about 100 cm).
Common features
Despite such significant differences in size, there are a number of characteristics inherent in all members of the cat family. A photo of these animals shows that they have a graceful, proportionally folded body, a slightly rounded head located on the short neck, middle length paws with soft pads and a tail, usually long.
There are a few more important common features related to hunting life animal.
Structure of teeth. All cats have long, sharp fangs that are shaped like slightly curved cones. When they bite, they are capable of inflicting deep and even fatal wounds.
Sharp talons. No other predatory animal has such sharp claws, which nature has endowed the cat family with. Such a powerful weapon helps the animal to easily climb trees, catch and hold its prey. And to prevent their claws from becoming dull and deteriorating, cats are able to hide them in specially provided recesses. It is this, as well as the soft pads on the paws, that allow the animal to move almost silently.
By the way, the cheetah is the only one in the family that does not have retractable claws, but this does not bother him, since they help the animal develop enormous speed, acting as spikes (like on the shoes of runners).
Inconspicuous color. The colors of cats are very diverse, but at the same time they have one thing in common - the ability to camouflage in the animal’s usual habitat. Whether it's the striped color of a tiger or the sandy color of a lion, the coloring allows you to remain invisible when hunting.
Classification
The cat family is conventionally divided into two subfamilies: large and small cats, which, in turn, are divided into genera and species. In total, there are 14 genera and 35-38 species (their number depends on the method of classification). In general, it is quite difficult to make a division, since the distinguishing features are often quite insignificant.
The subfamily of big cats includes only 3 genera, the remaining 11 are small cats. Oddly enough, the classification is not based on size at all, but on other morphological features. Because of this, the small cat subfamily has larger representatives than the big cat subfamily. For example, the puma, which is classified as a small cat, is larger than the leopard, which is classified as a big cat.
Differences
One of the seemingly minor differences between the groups is the structure. In large cats it consists of cartilage, while in small cats this part of the base of the tongue is completely ossified. Perhaps it is precisely because of this feature that the first cats can growl, and the second ones can purr while inhaling and exhaling.
There are some differences in behavior. eat while lying down, and little ones - sitting or standing (remember your
Another difference is the shape the pupil takes in bright light. In small cats it becomes narrow, like a slit, and in large cats it narrows, but remains round.
As we can see, there are no significant differences between the subfamilies.
Habitats
Cats are found literally all over the planet. They are able to adapt to almost any terrain and climate. However wild cats absent on continents such as Australia and Antarctica. They are also absent on such large islands as Greenland, Madagascar and New Guinea.
Both subfamilies are common in Russia, with a total of nine species: snow leopard, Amur tiger, lynx, bengal cat, house ( jungle cat), forest cat, steppe cat and manul.
That's all for today about the cat family. The photo located just above shows you a snow leopard ( snow leopard), living in our country.
Almost all wild cats, from huge and rather menacing to small and adorable, are in one way or another endangered. We invite you to pay attention to these amazing graceful animals, which are a real rare treasure of wild nature.
1. Asiatic cheetah
This magnificent cat once graced the expanses of the Middle East, Central Asia, Kazakhstan and southeast India.
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Currently, due to the destruction of their habitat, poaching and excessive hunting, there are approximately 70-110 individuals of Asiatic cheetah left on the entire planet, living in wildlife. All of them live in the arid conditions of the central plateau of Iran.
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2. Irbis (snow leopard)
Discovered in rocky mountains Central Asia, Snow leopards perfectly adapted to the cold conditions of the desert landscapes of their habitat.
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Unfortunately, the luxurious fur of the snow leopard attracts a huge number of hunters. For this reason, there are only 4000-6500 of these beautiful cats left in the world.
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3. Fishing cat (speckled cat)
Unlike many brothers in the family who prefer to avoid water procedures, this cat is a professional swimmer, living on the banks of rivers, streams and mangrove swamps.
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In 2008, this species joined the list of endangered animals because favorite places The habitats of fishing cats - swamps - are gradually drained and become the object of human attention.
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4. Kalimantan cat
Also known as the Borneo cat, this animal can only be found on the island of Borneo. This one is extremely rare representative cat family listed International Union on Nature Conservation in the Red Book. The photograph in front of you is one of the few photographs of such a rare species.
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5. Sumatran cat
This cat with a slender body and an unusual (slightly flattened) head shape loves to feast on fish and walks by itself in the vast expanses of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Sumatra. It has been listed in the Red Book since 2008 due to habitat destruction. The current number of individuals living on the planet is estimated to be less than 2,500.
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6. Andean cat
Among two dozen small species wild cats existing in the world, one of the rarest, information about which is rather scarce, is an animal called the Andean cat. Alas, while preserving the populations of its larger relatives from cat family While millions of dollars are allocated, there are hardly thousands left from the budgets of protective organizations to support such small cats.
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7. Iberian lynx
The Iberian lynx or Iberian lynx is considered the most endangered species of wild cat. Also this view of this moment is one of the rarest mammals on the planet.
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A disease called myxomatosis in the 1950s wiped out Spain's rabbit population (the mainstay of lynx's diet) on a huge scale. There are now only about 100 individuals of this wild cat species left in the wild.
8. Pallas's cat
These beauties prefer to spend the morning hours in caves, crevices and even marmot holes, going out to hunt only in the afternoon. Due to the impoverishment of their habitat, a decrease in food supplies and incessant hunting, in 2002 this species became endangered.
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9. Long-tailed cat (margay)
Margai are created to be ideal tree climbers. Only these cats have the ability to rotate their hind limbs 180 degrees, which allows them to run upside down through trees, like squirrels. Margay can even hang from a branch, clinging to it with only one paw. Every year, people kill about 14,000 long-tailed cats for their skins. This predation trend is fatal for margays because it takes them two years to produce offspring, while the risk of kitten mortality is 50%.
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10. Serval (bush cat)
These cats love to roam around African savannah. Serval is the owner of the most long paws in relation to the body in comparison with any other representative of the cat genus. Unfortunately, in pursuit of their elegant skin, hunters do not skimp on bullets and traps, subsequently offering tourists serval fur, passed off as leopard or cheetah.
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11. Caracal
Also known as desert lynx, this cat is capable of making barking sounds that serve as warning signals. The caracal is considered an endangered species in North Africa and is considered rare in Central Asia and India.
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12. African golden cat
Only relatively recently have people been able to obtain photographs of this rare nocturnal resident in its habitat.
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The golden cat is only twice the size of our usual domestic cat. Life expectancy in natural conditions in individuals of this species has not been established, but it is known that in captivity they can live up to 12 years.
13. Temminka the cat
This cat lives in tropical and subtropical wet evergreen and dry deciduous forests. Deforestation, as well as hunting for skins and bones, have become the reasons why this species is under threat of total extinction.
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14. Dune cat
This unique cat has an extended head shape and fur growing between its toes to protect it when walking on hot surfaces. The sand cat is listed as a threatened species, and therefore hunting it is prohibited in many countries.
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15. Far Eastern leopard
The Amur (Far Eastern) leopard is endangered due to the destruction of its habitat, as well as the constant danger posed by people. According to the latest data, in the wild there are currently Only 30 individuals of this species were recorded.
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16. Sumatran tiger
The Sumatran tiger is the last existing tiger species in Indonesia to survive in the wild.
Despite the active policy of protective organizations in the fight against poaching, these tigers are constantly hunted, dooming them to extinction. World markets are constantly being replenished with products made from these wild cats. Under these circumstances, there are fewer than 400 Sumatran tigers left in the world.
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17. Clouded leopard
The clouded leopard is considered an intermediate evolutionary link between large and small cats. This species is facing conditions of gradual disappearance of habitats as a result of large-scale felling forests Commercial poaching aimed at the wildlife trade also contributes to the extermination of this species. Total number populations clouded leopard According to experts, there are currently less than 10,000 adult individuals.
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18. Marble cat
This cat is often mistaken for a marbled leopard, but its size is much more graceful and its tail is different. high degree fluffiness. Destruction of the habitat conditions of this species in forests South-East Asia, as well as a reduction in the food supply, lead to a rapid decrease in the population of marbled cats in the world.
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19. Bengal cat
The color of the beautiful Bengal cat's skin can vary from gray to red and white with a very light chest. This is the first species to successfully undergo an experiment of crossing wild and domestic cats. The result was a beautiful and quite friendly beast.
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20. Maltese (blue) tiger
This species in the East is considered almost mythical. Majority maltese tigers belongs to a subspecies of the South China tiger, which is endangered due to the frequent use of body parts of this animal in traditional medicine. Individuals distinguished by their “blue” skin this moment may have already been completely exterminated.
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21. Golden Striped Tiger
“Golden Tabby” is not a species name, but a definition of color deviation.
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As a rule, such individuals are the result of targeted breeding of animals in captivity, but in India there is evidence of a meeting with a golden tiger dating back to 1900.
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22. White Lion
White lions are not albino. They are the owners of a rare genetic set that was distributed only in one place on Earth, national park Kruger's South Africa. Two decades before the creation of the Society for the Protection of White Lions, this species was almost completely exterminated, so now unique program to restore the population in their natural environment a habitat.
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23. Anatolian leopard
For the past 30 years, this Turkish leopard species was thought to be extinct. However, in 2013, a shepherd in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir killed a large cat that attacked his herd. Biologists later determined that it was an Anatolian leopard. Although this story has such a sad outcome, yet it gives hope that rarest species may still exist.
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24. Rusty cat
The rusty or red-spotted cat, whose length including the tail is only 50-70 cm, and whose weight is about 2-3 kg, is the smallest wild cat in the world. Humans know practically nothing about this species, whose representatives lead an extremely secretive life. Unfortunately, despite this, the rusty cat has already been included in the list of “vulnerable” species, since most of its places natural habitat has now been converted into farmland.
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25. Scottish forest cat
Known in the UK as the "Highland Tiger", the Scottish Forest Cat is now critically endangered, with a recent population estimate of fewer than 400 individuals.
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26. Black-footed cat
The smallest of all African wild cats, black-footed cat It has black fur on the soles of its paws, designed to protect it from the hot desert sand. These animals are no strangers to rummaging through garbage in search of food, and this habit exposes them to great danger, because in this way they fall into traps set for other animals.
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For those who dream of pet and wants to buy something non-trivial and unusual, excellent option will become the most big cats. Their habits do not differ from their smaller relatives, but their size amazes the imagination and breaks all stereotypes. Contrary to popular belief, large breeds of domestic cats are very graceful, flexible and elegant. They require more attention, care and care, but compensate for all this with affection and love for the owner. So, here is a list of the largest domestic cats.
For those who dream of a pet and want to buy something non-trivial and unusual, the biggest cats are an excellent option.
This rating is quite arbitrary, since the largest domestic cats do not always differ so significantly in size from their other brothers, who did not find a place in the top. This is especially true for females, who by nature are always smaller than males.
10. Kurilian Bobtail. The hit parade of big cats opens with a large, handsome Kurilian Bobtail. The weight of an adult male ranges around 6.8 kg, females - from 3.5 to 5 kg. This breed was bred on the Kuril Islands and at the end of the 20th century transported to mainland. Characteristic difference bobtails - short tail. These graceful big cats can even compete with dogs in terms of affection for their owner and intelligence. Kurilian Bobtails are usually friendly and love attention.
9. Chartreuse. Chartreuse is a large cat whose breed is recognized throughout the world, except Britain. They started breeding them in French city Chartres, where the name of these big cats comes from. In the Middle Ages they were called cat-dogs - these animals were so muscular, strong and smart. Males weigh 6-7 kg, females - 5-6. Despite their attachment to their owner, Chartreux are not very talkative and often only purr.
Chartreuse is a large cat whose breed is recognized throughout the world, except Britain.
8. Pixie bob. Domestic cat, almost identical in appearance to the lynx, is a pixie bob. The breed was artificially bred in the USA and is translated as “short-tailed elf.” You should not take the external severity and severity of these cats seriously: pixie-bobs love tenderness, are very tactful and unobtrusive. They do not reach the size of a lynx, but belong to the list of large cats weighing from 5 to 7.7 kg.
Pixie bob. A domestic cat that is almost identical in appearance to the lynx is the pixie bob.
7. Norwegian forest. The most resilient and adapted to harsh conditions a cat in the world is a beauty. This magnificent cat breed has a very thick and long wool, there are fur folds on the neck, a fluffy tail. The weight of an adult cat can reach 9 kg. Despite their size, these cats are agile, strong and fast. These are animals with innate hunting instincts who love freedom. But they also treat people quite friendly.
Norwegian forest. The most resilient cat in the world, adapted to harsh conditions
6. . Giant Van cats get their name from the area of the Turkish salt lake Van. Today, this breed of large cats is the rarest and is distributed mainly in Turkey. A typical Van has a truly cat-like disposition, is freedom-loving and independent, energetic and loves space. And also - swim. Perhaps this is due to the inextricable connection between his homeland and water.
Giant Van cats got their name from the area of the Turkish salt lake Van.
The biggest and largest cats in the world (video)
Top five largest cats in the world
A significant advantage that distinguishes really large breeds of cats is their rather high intelligence by cat standards.
5. Fifth place in the list of the largest breeds of domestic cats belongs to the Siberian cat. The weight of adult seasoned Siberians is from 5 to 9 kg. Although this is domestic cat, he prefers the wide open spaces of the yard to the cramped conditions of the apartment. The Siberian cat is the largest cat breed in Russia, a hunter by nature, and for full life it needs a lot of space. Such pets are able to defend their territory and warn of the appearance of strangers.
The Siberian cat is the largest cat breed in Russia
4. . The British are real giants. Heaviest weight males of this breed weigh 10 kg, and females weigh 5-7 kg. The most popular color of the British is blue. They get along well with other pets, sedate and balanced, even lazy. Therefore, they tend to be overweight.
The British are real giants
3. Ragdoll. Phlegmatic ragdolls are one of the most common breeds in the world. The name of the breed translates as " Ragdoll" And this is not far from the truth, since these pets allow you to fiddle with them like a doll: pet them, squeeze them, drag them, comb them, and show love and tenderness in other ways. However, what joy could there be in carrying this huge ball of fur in your arms? After all, it weighs about 9-10 kg. It's a miracle with big eyes has a very original color.
Phlegmatic Ragdolls are one of the most common breeds in the world.
2. Maine Coon. According to legend, the Maine Coon breed came from crossing a cat and a raccoon. It was from these animals that the cats got their color, fluffy tail, some habits and unnatural big sizes. The weight of a male Maine Coon can reach 15 kg, and its height can be up to 40 cm. One of the representatives of this breed was included in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest cat in the world: its length was 123 cm. This is significantly longer than that of a baby. Despite the impressive size and great appearance, the Maine Coon is a completely domestic cat, peaceful, graceful and very neat.
According to legend, the Maine Coon breed originated from crossing a cat and a raccoon.
The liger, this little-known hybrid, is the largest cat in the world. On average, an individual liger weighs from 300 to 370 kg and can reach up to 4 meters in length and up to 2 meters in height. This huge cat is almost twice the size of the largest lion.
As you can guess from the name, a liger is a mixture of two largest representatives felines - lions and tigers, namely a male lion and a female tiger. What’s interesting is that if the father is a tiger and the mother is a lioness, then a completely different animal will be born, the so-called “tiger lion,” which is much larger in size. smaller than a tiger. This happens because in male lions the genes responsible for growth are more active than in lionesses, but in tigers the opposite is true - genes that inhibit growth are less developed in females. That is why ligers grow to such incredible sizes; the gene that inhibits growth is suppressed in them. By the way, ligers grow throughout their entire lives.
Externally, ligers are more similar to tigers than to lions: they do not have a mane, and characteristic tiger stripes are visible on their bodies, albeit very pale.
You can meet ligers only in captivity, because... in nature, lions and tigers live in different geographical areas: lions are in Africa, and tigers are only in Asia. However, even in captivity these huge cats very rare. Now there are about 25 individuals in the world. Like many other feline hybrids, ligers cannot procreate - almost all males are sterile, but most females are capable of bearing offspring.
Despite huge size and quite terrifying in appearance, ligers are not aggressive and are even friendly towards humans. They love to play and be spoiled like domestic kittens. These cats also know how and love to swim.
Most large individual The liger is a male named Hercules. He was born in 2004 in America. Now he weighs 420 kg, his body length is more than 4 meters, and his height is more than 2 m, while Hercules continues to grow.
Our planet is inhabited by 37 species of representatives of the cat family. Most of them are large animals, predators. Lions and tigers, panthers and pumas, leopards and cheetahs are considered the largest wild cats in the world. Representatives of this large family have distinctive features in behavior, color, habitat, etc.
In nature there are animals that amaze with their incredible size. In this article we will talk about some of them, and you will also find out the name of the largest wild cat in the world.
Cheetah
An animal that combines the traits and characteristics of both cats and dogs. Long and slender legs, like dogs, a short body and the ability, like cats, to climb trees. This is not the most big cat in the world. Her height does not exceed 90 cm and her weight is 65 kilograms. The body is slender with well-developed muscles and almost no fat deposits; it may even seem fragile.
The cheetah's head is small, with high-set eyes and small rounded ears. The cheetah's short fur is sand-colored with black spots.
Most of the populations of these predators are found in African countries: Angola, Algeria, Botswana, Benin, Congo, etc. There are not very many cheetahs left in Asia: according to unconfirmed data, habitats are preserved only in the central part of Iran.
Animals prefer flat and large spaces, since the hunting style of these wild cats is quite unusual: they are able to quietly approach prey at a distance of less than 10 meters, and then make a rapid dash, developing enormous speed. However, they can only pursue their prey for only 400 meters. If she managed to escape during this time, the cheetah rests and waits for a new victim.
Puma
It is one of the largest wild cats in the world and the second largest in the Americas. The height at the withers is about 70 cm with a body length of 180 cm. Average weight predator - 100 kg. The body is elongated, quite massive, hind legs longer than the front ones, the head is small, proportional to the body. Color - gray or reddish.
The puma lives mainly in South America or in the west North America, and also in Yucatan. The animal settles in almost any area - from plains to mountains. This cat is not too picky about food, can feast on ungulates, and does not disdain insects. Cases of attacks on people have been recorded; as a rule, these were people short, walking alone, or children.
Leopard
Of the world's largest wild cats, the leopard is considered the most cunning predator. Despite the fact that its size is smaller than that of a tiger or a lion, it is in no way inferior to them in the power of its jaws. Height at the withers does not exceed 80 cm, and weight - 100 kg. The length of the body can be more than 195 cm. The leopard is common in savannas, mountainous areas Africa and the southern half of East Asia.
The predator has its own characteristics:
- climbs trees well;
- overcomes without difficulty water obstacles;
- can eat fish;
- sits in ambush for a very long time;
- goes out hunting alone at night;
- to protect its prey, it drags it up a tree.
Leopards are considered more aggressive, whose color is predominantly black, which animals receive due to the high content of the hormone melatonin.
a lion
This mighty animal is one of the largest wild cats in the world. A lion, whose weight reaches and sometimes exceeds 250 kg, with a height at the withers of 123 cm and a body length of up to 250 cm, is a formidable and dangerous predator. The color of the thick coat with a dense undercoat varies from sandy to dark brown. Characteristic Features The lion is characterized by a luxurious mane, which only males possess, and a tuft at the tip of the tail. These predators live mainly in Africa; small populations remain in India.
The lion notifies the surrounding area that it is going out to hunt with a menacing roar that can be heard several kilometers from the animal’s location. These are the only representatives of the family living in prides ( large families), which are led by the leader of the pack, young and strong lion. During the hunt, the males are in ambush, and the females drive the prey.
Tigers
These beautiful animals are considered to be the largest wild cats in the world. The size and weight of these giants is impressive. Often the weight of a tiger exceeds 250 kg, and the height of the animal at the withers is 1.2 meters. The body length of an adult male often exceeds three meters.
Predators have a strong and muscular body, a large round head with a convex skull, a beautiful and bright color - rich red with black stripes. These animals today survive in 16 countries - Bhutan and Bangladesh, India and Vietnam, Iran and Indonesia, China and Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Pakistan, Nepal, Thailand and Russia. It is believed that there is a small population in the DPRK, but this information has not been officially confirmed.
Tigers live in humid tropical forests, bamboo thickets in the tropics, mangrove swamps and dry savannas, semi-deserts, on bare rocky hills and in the north in the taiga. Their feeding territory extends to different areas for 300-500 km. The predator hunts in the evening and in the morning. It attacks from ambush, sniffing out its prey.
Tigers are surprisingly clean. Before each hunt, the predator must bathe in order to fight off the smell that could scare away the future victim. A person can become the easiest prey for this cat. But it attacks only when people violate the boundaries of its territory or the predator’s food supply dries up. Nowadays, cases of tigers attacking people are extremely rare. This is due to a decrease in the population of almost all species of this animal. All subspecies of tigers are steadily decreasing in number and are included in the Red Book.
Ligers and Tiglons
And finally, the largest wild cat in the world (you can see the photo below) is a hybrid of a female tiger and a male lion. Ligers grow rapidly, gaining up to 500 grams per day. The offspring obtained from a lioness (mother) and a tiger (father) are called tiglons. Such animals are as rare as ligers, but are inferior in size.
Ligers usually grow larger than their parents, and tiglons are close in size to tigers. Ligers, like tigers, love to swim, but are more sociable, which is typical for lions. They can only live in captivity. It is quite natural that this hybrid cannot be born in nature, since tigers and lions do not have general environment habitats, in the wild they do not intersect.
The liger is the largest wild cat in the world. Until recently, there was a misconception that it grows throughout life due to hormonal characteristics. But then it was found that after reaching the age of six, this animal stops growing, like tigers and lions.
Standing on its hind legs, the liger reaches a height of four meters. Females of these cats weigh 320 kg and their body length is three meters. Quite often they retain the ability to reproduce, while the males are sterile. This is one of the problems in the reproduction of such hybrid offspring.
Cubs that were born from a ligress mother are called liligers. There is data about maximum weight such an animal is 540 kg, and in the USA, in the state of Wisconsin - 725 kg. In 1973, the Guinness Book of Records was updated with information about the largest liger at that time. The weight of this hybrid cat was 798 kilograms. The animal lived in South Africa, in one of the zoological centers.
Hercules
Today, the largest wild cat in the world, Hercules, lives in a Miami park. The animal is 16 years old. He was born in 2002 from the union of a lion and a tigress. He took a worthy place in the Guinness Book of Records thanks to his weight of 408 kilograms. The height of the animal is 183 centimeters, and the diameter of the muzzle is 73 centimeters. Hercules is a unique liger, because he was born only because his parents were kept in the same enclosure.
Scientists believe that artificial breeding these animals are associated only with geographical features. In the distant past, when the habitats of tigers and lions coincided, ligers were not something special in the wild and these giants regularly updated the population. And today there is no possibility of mating of the largest wild cats in natural conditions.
Reasons for the huge growth
Genetic material The father lion passes on the ability to grow his cubs, and the female tigress has genes that do not interfere with the growth of the offspring. As a result, the cub's size is virtually left uncontrolled, and the cub is actively growing.
- The claws of these animals reach 5 cm in length.
- Little liger cubs have both spots and stripes in color.
- Today, no more than 20 ligers live on our planet, kept in zoos. different countries peace.
- In Russia, the first lig cub was born at the Novosibirsk Zoo in 2012.