All types of tigers. Tiger - striped predator
Many people, when they see this, amazing animal the question arises: “Which one is the most big tiger in the world?".
The largest species of tigers
This animal has extremely terrifying dimensions, which can vary depending on its subspecies. The question of which tiger is the largest in the world cannot be answered unequivocally. After all, there are several varieties, the dimensions of which leave a strong impression.
Today it is believed that the most big tigers in the world they belong to two subspecies. True, their rivals in size have recently appeared. These are the so-called ligers, which occurred in the process of crossing the two largest representatives of cats.
Among the subspecies created by nature, the largest tigers in the world are Bengal and Amur. They hardly differ in size and weight. Although it is worth noting that the largest tiger in the world was killed in 1967 in Northern India. This was officially recognized as the highest figure in nature, because the weight of the killed male reached 388.7 kg!
Bengal tiger
Representatives of this subspecies can be found in Pakistan, Northern and Central India, Eastern Iran, Bangladesh, Manyam, Bhutan, Nepal and in the vicinity adjacent to the mouths of the Sutlij, Ravi, Indus. It is not only the largest tiger in the world, but also the most numerous of the living subspecies. There are a little less than 2.5 thousand individuals.
Average weight The size of a male Bengal tiger varies depending on its habitat. The highest results in modern world celebrated in Nepal. On average, a male pulls 235 kg there. But it was there that the “record holder” was spotted - the largest tiger in the world, whose weight reached 320 kg.
Amur tiger
This subspecies has many other names: Ussuri, Far Eastern, Manchurian or Siberian. As already mentioned, it is believed to be the largest tiger in the world.
The dimensions of this representative of the cat family are very impressive. For example, if he stands on hind legs, then his height will be up to 3.5-4 m! The weight of such individuals may vary. So, the stable weight is 250 kg. But among them there are outstanding individuals.
The Siberian tiger is somewhat different in appearance from its counterparts living in warm countries. It has a less bright red color, and its coat is very thick. In addition, there is a layer of fat on its belly, which allows it to feel comfortable in frosty winters.
A Far Eastern tiger living in captivity can live more than 25 years. When free, his age rarely exceeds 15.
Concern for the conservation of an endangered subspecies
In nature Amur tigers there are very few left. There are several reasons for this. Among them:
- the active destruction of animals by people who hunt them for their fur;
- the extinction of Amur tigers from plague, which affects carnivores;
- deforestation of the taiga, where tigers can live freely and breed;
- a decrease in the number of ungulates, which are the main food product of these predators;
- identical DNA in surviving individuals, which leads to the appearance of weak and often non-viable offspring.
Today this situation has been brought under control. Now nature reserves and zoos are actively breeding these graceful animals, and their name has been included in the Red Book of Russia. At last count, there are no more than 500 Amur tigers left.
Liger
As noted earlier, in nature there are hybrids obtained by crossing individuals of different species. This measure was taken by zoo owners in order to impress visitors, increasing their number and profits. But these attempts were not always crowned with success, and the success rate was only 1-2. Crossing lions with tigresses led to the appearance of quite interesting and large hybrids.
The male liger is much larger than even the Bengal and Amur tigers. Its weight can reach 400 kg even when the individual is not obese at all. The height of a male standing on his hind legs is about 4 m.
In appearance, ligers resemble those that became extinct about 10 thousand years ago. They owe such large dimensions to the DNA of their ancestors, because lions and tigresses, when mating, activate the gene that is responsible for growth.
The most main feature lion-tigress hybrids is that their females have the ability to bear children. So, there are two more species - liligers and taligers. The first is produced by crossing a female liger and a male lion, and the second by mating a female liger and a male tiger.
Breeding such unusual large species American Association He strongly disapproves of zoos and aquariums. After all, today we need to concentrate on conserving endangered species of tigers, and not try our best to break the record in the category “The largest tiger in the world.”
Panthera tigris altaica
Order: Carnivora (Carnivora)
Family: Felidae
Genus: Panthera
Under guard: In 1947, the tiger was taken under protection - hunting for it was completely prohibited in Russia. This amazing animal is included in the Red List International Union nature protection and the Red Book Russian Federation listed as a threatened species in Appendix II of the Convention on international trade endangered species of wild fauna and flora (CITES).
Where he lives: Currently, 95% of the entire Amur tiger population lives in the Russian Far East. 5% – in China.
Size: The body length of an Amur tiger without a tail is 160-200 cm, the tail length is about 100 cm. The weight of an adult animal can reach 300 kg. The largest recorded mass of a tiger is 384 kg.
Appearance: The Amur tiger is larger than its own southern relatives, his fur is thicker and lighter. Along the reddish background, forming a complex pattern, there are transverse dark stripes. The pattern on a tiger's skin is unique, like a person's fingerprint: you will not find two tigers with the same pattern. Black stripes, despite their brightness, serve as camouflage for the tiger. But the large white spots on the black back of the ears have a different purpose. When a tigress walks through the forest, she puts her ears so that the black and white field is clearly visible to the cubs following her. In winter, the skin of tigers lightens, becomes thick and fluffy. Big snows The tiger is not afraid - his wide paws help him walk on them.
Behavior and lifestyle:
Tigers are almost constantly on the move. Walking around their territory, they look for prey. Tigers, like other cats, mark the boundaries of their territory with odorous marks. They also scrape the ground or, standing on their hind legs, tear off the bark from trees. Such “bulls” can sometimes be found at a height of 2–2.5 meters above the ground.
Tigers are conservative - they use the same paths for years and, if there is enough food within their territory, they never leave them.
The sizes of tigers' habitats vary. They depend on the sex and age of the animal and on how many ungulates are found in the area. Tigresses with small cubs, for example, use a much smaller territory for living and hunting than solitary animals.
The Amur tiger has enormous power and well-developed sense organs. At the same time, he has to devote a lot of time to hunting. Tigers hunt mainly large ungulates. To catch prey, a tiger crawls towards its prey, arching its back and resting its hind paws on the ground. Only one out of ten attempts is successful. And if the throw ends in failure, the tiger will prefer not to pursue the victim, but to look for a new one. When there is little game in the forests, Amur tigers sometimes attack large livestock and dogs.
Nutrition:
The tiger's diet mainly consists of wapiti, wild boar and sika deer. Daily norm tiger food - 9-10 kilograms of meat. For the prosperous existence of one individual, about 50-70 ungulates per year are needed.
The Amur tiger can not only hunt, but also fish - during spawning, it catches fish on the rifts of mountain rivers.
Reproduction:
Amur tigers are believed to be polygamous. Their periods of reproduction and the appearance of tiger cubs are not confined to any specific time of year. And yet, tigers most often produce offspring in April-June.
After three to four months of waiting, the female gives birth to two or three blind tiger cubs. The mother tries to make a den for her cubs in the safest, hard-to-reach places: in dense thickets, caves, rock crevices - where they will be invisible to other predators.
Around the ninth day after birth, tiger cubs' eyes open, and at the age of two weeks, sharp teeth begin to grow. The mother feeds her children with milk for six months. Leaving the shelter, two-month-old small predators taste game for the first time - their mother begins to bring them meat.
Tiger cubs play a lot, learning the skills necessary for hunting. From the age of six months, grown-up tiger cubs accompany their mother during the hunt and learn the wisdom of searching and obtaining food. At one year of age, the cubs try for the first time to use all the hunting skills they have acquired. But the first attempts to get food do not always end in success. Teenagers will be able to overcome themselves big catch only by two years.
For the first few years of their lives, tiger cubs stay with their mother. The tigress hunts with young tigers until they reach sexual maturity. In the second year of life, young tigers separate from their mother, but continue to live on her territory.
Lifespan:
IN wildlife is 16-18 years old, in captivity – up to 25 years old.
Interesting Facts:
The Amur tiger is the largest subspecies of tiger, occupying the northernmost part of its range, and is the only one that has mastered life in the snow.
The Amur tiger has the thickest and longest fur, but has fewer stripes than other subspecies. The number of tiger stripes can reach up to 100.
Today, tigers are preserved in 14 countries - Bangladesh, Bhutan, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Cambodia, China, North Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand.
Over the past 100 years, the number of tigers in the world has decreased by 25 times.
The average weight of a tiger is 170 kg for males and 120 kg for females.
Today, there are two species of this cat family: Amur and bengal tigers. Bengal tigers, depending on their habitat, are divided into several subspecies: South China, Sumatran, Malayan and Indochinese. Their northern brother - Amur tiger, lives in less comfortable climatic conditions, individual animals are “registered” in the Far East, Khabarovsk and Primorsky Territories.
This capricious and cautious predator is second only to the bear in its weight. Even the king of animals, the lion, is not able to compete with the tiger in this weight category. The height of the animal is three meters or more, excluding the length of the tail. There are individuals whose height approaches four meters. The tail of a predator is a source of special pride. With it he expresses his mood and warns the unwanted guest that the boundaries of the tiger's domain have been violated. With the help of this part of the body, males sort things out with each other; when climbing trees, the tail allows them to maintain balance, and also serves as a kind of sensor when moving in dark time days.
The average weight of a tiger is 170 kg for males and 120 kg for females.
The skin of each animal has its own special color. Tiger stripes, like human fingerprints, are unique. If representatives of the beautiful half of the tiger family decide to visit a beauty salon, then even after depilation, the skin of fashionistas will remain striped - the fur pattern is completely repeated on the skin of the animal. The royal status of the tiger is recognized in China - the stripes on the animal's forehead resemble the markings of a symbol of power.
Although the predator belongs to the cat family, in addition to weight and height, it has a number of distinctive features, compared to furry pets.
- Cats are nocturnal hunters; a tiger can go out to get food both at night and in the morning.
- Cat's eye has unique structure– his pupil is elongated, while a tiger’s pupil is round.
Therefore, whether the relationship between two representatives of these felines is consanguineous remains quite controversial.
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The tiger is a professional hunter. Exist seasonal species lying in wait for prey. In winter, the animal sneaks up on the victim from behind; in summer, it waits in ambush for its lunch or dinner. Knowing the hunting tactics of a tiger, the inhabitants of India, going into the jungle, put a mask on the back of their heads; when faced with a potential victim face to face, the predator will most likely lose interest in it, since the effect of surprise disappears.
The speed of this graceful and strong animal can reach 60 km/h over a short distance, and its muscular legs allow it to jump up to 5 meters in height, which is comparable to the height of a double-decker bus.
The lifestyle of predators can be considered Spartan. They are capable of fasting for up to several days, but in case have a good hunting, the animal eats up to 30 kg of meat in one meal, which is equal to the amount of one hundred steaks. The main weapons of tigers are ten-centimeter fangs, which, like a sharp dagger, can sever the artery of a victim, and powerful paws, the impact of which even the strong bones of a bear’s skull cannot withstand.
How much does the Amur tiger weigh?
The Amur tiger is larger than its Asian counterparts and has adapted to life in harsh climatic conditions. The peculiarity of its habitat was reflected in the appearance of the animal: its fur is much thicker than that of a Bengal tiger, and its color is lighter. The only one of all representatives of large cats, the Amur tiger has a subcutaneous fat layer of about 5 cm on the abdominal wall, such anatomical feature allows the predator to survive in winter.
The weight of an Amur tiger in the wild exceeds 200 kg.
The tiger is a predator, most often it does not leave its hunting grounds, if there is enough food for a comfortable existence. But during the hungry year, cases of attacks on livestock were recorded. The peculiarity of the hunting habits of the Amur tiger is that it first knocks a large prey to the ground and then gnaws the cervical vertebrae. In the event of a failed attack attempt, the predator most often leaves the prey and does not make repeated attempts. The remarkable strength of the animal allows it to drag a victim weighing up to 500 kg along the ground, which is almost three times its weight.
The Amur tiger is listed in the Red Book and is a rare, protected species. It’s a sad fact, but there are currently several times more tigers in captivity than in natural environment a habitat. In captivity, predator specimens are more modest in size compared to their wild counterparts. The weight of the Amur tiger in nature exceeds 200 kg, and the height at the withers is more than 115 cm. The reason for the decrease in the animal population is poaching and uncontrolled shooting of the animal. An important task, solved on state level, is not only preservation, but also complete restoration of this unique look majestic representative of wildlife.
The tiger is considered one of the most dangerous predators in the world. Wherein huge cat It looks beautiful and graceful, thanks to which it attracts attention from people.
Description and features
Tiger is the largest terrestrial predator. A total of nine subspecies of the animal have been identified, but by the beginning of the twenty-first century only six had survived. Total tigers today are approximately 4000-6500 individuals. The most numerous subspecies is the Bengal tiger. In the twentieth century, the predator was listed in the Red Book, and hunting for it was prohibited throughout the world.
Different subspecies of the animal have different weights and sizes. Adult Amur tigers can reach two and a half meters, and in some cases almost three meters in length without a tail, weigh up to 275 kilograms, sometimes up to three hundred kilograms.
The big tiger lives in a variety of places: wet rainforests, bamboo thickets in the tropics, mangrove swamps, savannas, semi-deserts, taiga. At the zoo, the tiger's coloring seems very bright - orange with black stripes. However, in natural conditions habitat stripes act as excellent camouflage. In thickets and bushes, the tiger becomes almost invisible, especially when motionless. But even if he glides gracefully through the shadows of the jungle, he is very difficult to spot. All subspecies of tigers have a color that matches the characteristics of their habitat.
The tiger usually lives alone, but sometimes it can hunt with a friend. This is a temporary phenomenon, usually occurring during the mating season in winter or spring. The territory that the predator marks also turns out to be only a temporary home. Its size depends on the habitat, the abundance of prey, and the presence of females in the area.
Tigers mainly feed on ungulates: deer, wild boar, black-backed tapir, axis, and roe deer. They can also hunt such large animals as Indian buffalo, elk, gaur. A tiger requires about sixty ungulates per year. Sometimes tigers can attack other predators, in particular leopards, wolves, boa constrictors, and sometimes even crocodiles. The tiger uses its special coloration to track prey. Under the cover of vegetation, it approaches the victim and pounces on it with a swift dash. The den is made in hard-to-reach places: in caves, in crevices, in reed supports.
The female's pregnancy lasts three and a half months. Babies are born blind and helpless. At the age of two weeks they begin to see, hear, and their weight doubles. They become curious, crawl out of the den and even try to climb trees. At two years old, tiger cubs weigh up to one hundred kilograms and begin to hunt independently, but still under the control of their mother. The tigress patiently passes on all her experience to her heirs. The tiger does not take part in raising his children.
Most cats avoid water, but tigers love to swim. They often sit or lie, immersed in water up to their necks, and enjoy the coolness. The predator is very clean; after lunch, it carefully licks its fur.
Amur tiger
The Amur tiger occupies a special place among these animals. It is the largest among its relatives, its body length reaches almost three meters, and its weight reaches two hundred and seventy kilograms. In addition to its size, the animal is distinguished by thick hair, an impressive layer belly fat, which is low temperatures protects him. The tiger lives in cold areas. There are about four hundred and fifty individuals in captivity, and about the same number live in natural conditions. The population of this subspecies is declining.
The average life expectancy is fifteen years, the maximum speed is up to fifty kilometers per hour. Usually all tigers choose large areas, the area of which is three hundred, and often all five hundred square kilometers. They mark their territory with claw marks on trees and urine. If there is enough food, the animal does not leave its territory, making sure that another male does not invade. They lead singles, mostly nightlife. They distinguish colors well, and at night they see much better than humans.
The main food of a tiger: wild boar, roe deer, lynx, elk, deer. At the same time, they can feast on birds, fish, mice, frogs and some types of plants. The daily rate of meat consumption is approximately ten kilograms per individual. Some believe that the Amur tiger can eat people. In fact, he almost never attacks them; such cases are very rare. Where a person lives, he generally tries not to go, only if there are problems with food.
Subspecies
The Bengal tiger lives in India, but can sometimes be found in neighboring countries. The subspecies numbers approximately one thousand two hundred individuals, and the size is slightly inferior to the dimensions Siberian tiger– three meters long and 260 kilograms in weight.
The Indochinese tiger is distributed in southern regions China, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, there are approximately nine hundred individuals. The population of these tigers has been poorly studied, since they live in inaccessible forests.
The South China tiger lives in China; there are only twenty individuals left, so this subspecies is considered a rare and almost extinct species.
The Caspian tiger could previously be found in Central Asia. The coat color was bright red, and the stripes were longer with brown tint. With the onset of cold weather, the fur became thick and fluffy, and lush sideburns grew. The subspecies was exterminated in the 1970s.
The question often arises, how much does a tiger weigh, because it is known that this wild cat considered the largest in the world. We all know from childhood that the most graceful and beautiful predator is a tiger. This big cat amazes with its size and unusual appearance. If we talk about the dimensions of this animal, then, of course, it is worth considering that different types tigers have their own characteristics and parameters.
The two largest species are considered to be the Amur and Bengal tigers. The animal of each of these species has approximately the same parameters and weight. Experts on these wild cats say that the average weight of representatives of large predators is 270-350 kg.
The dimensions of the body, excluding the length of the tail, are 3 m, and the height at the withers is on average 1 m 10 cm. But many experts still argue that these breeds of tigers have differences in their parameters. The fact is that this species of mammal is sometimes called the panther-tiger, which is completely justified, since the word “tiger” is translated into Latin as “ panthera tigris" They are representatives of the panther genus.
It is worth considering each of these types in more detail. The area where it lives plays a big role in the life and habits of a tiger. It must be said right away that long years There was some debate as to how much larger the tiger was than its relative the lion. Experts say that on average, striped predators are still larger and physically stronger than lions, but the latter is a born hunter and a deft fighter. However, for a tiger, hunting is not only about getting food, but also about instinct. As a rule, he always wins a quick and undeniable victory. History knows of cases where a battle between these two representatives of the cat family did take place, but, fortunately, their habitats differ, and lions living in Africa do not often meet with their striped counterparts living in India and the Far East (Russia ).
Bengal tiger breed
The habitat of tigers of this breed is India, Pakistan, Iran, Nepal and Myanmar. The habitat of these predators determines their secondary division into subspecies: Malayan, Indochinese, South Chinese and Sumatran. This predator is considered not only the largest among its representatives, but also the most numerous among other species: there are about 2.5 thousand units. Experts say that big role The place where tigers live plays a role in the formation of muscles and, accordingly, overall dimensions. For example, it is generally accepted that Nepal is home to the most large individuals: the largest tiger that was seen in this area weighed 320 kg, while the average weight of other individuals was about 100 kg less.
Experts talk about tigers as the fastest and most merciless hunters; there have been cases when this wild cat entered into battle with lions and quite big bears, and often victory remained on her side. This predator is capable long time sit in ambush and wait for your prey. He attacks with lightning speed, delivering decisive blows with powerful paws and claws, the length of which is 10 cm. Maximum speed a tiger while pursuing its prey is 80 km/h; few animals have such speed, therefore, as a rule, the predator always catches up with its prey. But he cannot run for too long, as he gets tired quickly and that is why he tries to sneak up as close to his prey as possible.
Amur tiger
It is he who lives in Russia who is considered the largest and strongest among other tigers. There are several names for this species: Siberian, Manchurian, Ussuri and Far Eastern. This tiger is the largest, has considerable body mass, it is quite large in size (for example, if it stands on its hind legs, its height will be about 3.5-4 m). The average weight of a representative of this breed is about 250 kg, but there were individuals with more impressive weight. The lifespan of a tiger in the wild is about 15 years, and in captivity it can live up to 20-25. This wild cat lives in rather harsh climatic conditions, and therefore nature has endowed it with fluffier and thicker fur than that of its Asian “brothers”. The largest individuals of the Amur breed live in the Far East. The map shows regions such as Khabarovsk and Primorsky Territories.
Color variety of large tigers
The color of a tiger is considered unique, since its unique stripes are drawn by nature on the skin itself. The general population of these predators is orange with black stripes; There are white islands of fur on the chest, paws and muzzle, but each species has its own characteristics in color.
It should be noted that the most big tiger the world is a predator white. For example, a white Amur tiger in the territory Far East It is distinguished by powerful muscles and a characteristic layer of fat on the abdomen, which significantly adds to its weight. It is more hardy than its relatives living in warm climates. But it also has a worthy competitor - the white Bengal species.
Representatives of this genus reproduce well and live in captivity. If crossed white male with an orange female, the likelihood of having white kittens is low. But if a tiger and a tigress both have the white gene, then the offspring will have exactly this color. The tiger skull of this subspecies is powerful and very large; it is distinguished by its dimensions and considerable body weight. The average weight of this mammal is 300-350 kg. The skeleton of a tiger is quite impressive in size, its large bones provide it with these dimensions, and only some species of bear can compare with the animal.
It is a mistaken opinion that this species belongs to albinos: a big misconception, since it White wool has light brown stripes. Eye color is usually blue or gray.
When it comes to what tigers eat, experts say unequivocally that for this type of predator the main food is deer. But tigers also hunt other cattle, as well as wild pigs.
The lifespan of a white tiger is slightly shorter than that of an orange one, and it is quite difficult to meet them in captivity today. The average lifespan of these mammals is 10 years.
The offspring of different subspecies may produce a black tiger cub. In fact, it's quite rare color variation brindle color, which still occurs in nature. Most often, such individuals are found among Bengal breeds. The black stripes on its skin are located so close to each other that the orange background is practically invisible, and due to this it seems that the tiger is completely black. Such a wild cat is called a melanist. The number of these individuals is very small, and there are only a few of them in captivity. This tiger feeds on the same things as its relatives: cattle, fish and wild boars. Hunting for this predator is his whole life.
It just so happens that a simple cat is a night hunter, but tigers get food at any time of the day: both at night and in the morning, during the day.
Another characteristic feature was the difference found in anatomical structure the pupil of these animals. A domestic cat has an oblong pupil, as if elongated, but a large wild “sister” has a round pupil.
Not everyone knows that the role of the heaviest and major representative This genus of mammal is claimed by the liger, which is very rare. This hybrid was the result of crossing a male lion with a female tigress. Its weight is no less than 300-400 kg, and its length reaches 3 meters or more.
Experts consider these mammals not only the largest, but also, accordingly, the strongest animals. It is certain that the paws of the tiger-lion are endowed great strength, and its impact is 1500 kg.
It runs at a speed of 60-80 km/h, but how the lion tiger hunts in the wild is still unknown. What does a liger look like? Its head is covered with a sparse mane, sometimes it is practically absent. This species is not found in the wild, since the lion is African resident, and the tiger is Asian, so the intersections in real life It’s practically impossible. This unusual representative The panther genus appeared as a result of a long joint stay of a lion and a tiger in the same enclosure. This happens often in zoos or circuses. According to the latest data, about 20 individuals of this subspecies lived in captivity.
The question is often asked: how many teeth does a tiger have? It is known that tigers, like ordinary cats, have 30 teeth, but their size is not at all cat-like. With its teeth, any representative of the panther genus is capable of exerting a pressing force equal to 71 atmospheres; it easily and quickly gnaws the bones of large cattle. Its fangs are the longest, which can reach up to 8-10 cm.
And here is the most little tiger in the world is a representative of one of the pure breeds of the cat family - this is the Sumatran species. He lives on the islands of Indonesia and is distinguished by his evil and cruel disposition; he will not miss the chance to attack not only other animals, but also humans. This type listed in the Red Book and protected by law. It is distinguished from its relatives not only small stature and weight, but also a different arrangement of black stripes on the skin and other anatomical features.
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