Wednesday 9 March 2016

Tiger

Tiger 







Scientific Name: Panthera tigris
Conservation status: Endangered (Population decreasing)
Higher classification: Roaring cats
Lifespan: 20 – 26 years (In captivity)
Speed: 49 – 65 km/h (Adult, In Short Bursts)
Mass: Male: 90 – 310 kg (Adult), Female: 65 – 170 kg (Adult) .


Bite force : Siberian tiger PSI: 950, Bengal Tiger PSI: 1,050

                 

The heaviest known Bengal was 388.7 kg (857 lbs).

                                                                                           The largest wild cat on earth, and the largest member of the Felidae (cat) family, is the tiger. Tigers are an Endangered species. In addition to having lost over 90% of their original habitat, they have been aggressively hunted and poached. The current population of tigers in the world is believed to be between 3,000 and 4,000. Tiger “farms” currently exist in Asia and Africa, where they are being bred for body parts.




Physical Appearance





Tigers are known for their black stripes. Their fur varies in color from white to golden. A white tiger is not an albino. Their white appearance is the result of a genetic variation – a recessive gene. White tigers are either pure or part Bengal tiger, and usually bred in zoos. It is rare to see a white tiger in the wild. They do not live as long as golden-colored tigers and many have crossed eyes.







Male Siberian tigers can grow up to 12 ft. long and weigh as much as 675 lbs. Female tigers are between 6.5 to 9 feet long and weigh between 140 to 370 lbs. A tiger’s tale is 2 and 3.6 ft. in length.



Range

Tigers could once be found throughout Asia. During the past 100 years, their numbers have plummeted from approximately 100,000 to less than 4,000. Within the past 15 to 20 years, their range has also decreased by over 40%. Many tigers live in the forest, but you can also find them in grasslands and places where there are hills and rocks. They are also excellent swimmers and like being near water. Tigers generally lead solitary lives in established territories, although they are also considered “social.”

The largest population of wild tigers is in India.



Hunting & Prey

Tigers have been seen hunting during the day and night. They prefer medium to large hoofed animals such as deer, boar and buffalo. They will also eat domestic livestock, and on occasion leopards, dogs, crocodiles and bears A tiger will also eat vegetation from time to time.


Reproduction

Males and females will typically mate from November to April. There are generally 2 to 3 cubs in a tiger litter, with a range of 1 to 6. Cubs will usually stay with their mother until they are 2 to 2 ½ years old. Tigers live between 20 and 26 years, both in captivity and in the wild.



Conservation Issues

The tiger has been hunted relentlessly for its skin and body parts. Most black marketers involved in the tiger parts trade are based in China. There are also “farms’ where the tigers are being bred for their parts. It is estimated that there are between 5,000 and 10,000 tigers currently living on these farms – more than the current wild tiger population.


Classification/taxonomy



Nine subspecies of tiger are recognized; however, three of them are extinct, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).

The taxonomy of tigers, according to ITIS, is:

Kingdom: Animalia
Subkingdom: Bilateria
Infrakingdom: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclass: Tetrapoda
Class: Mammalia
Subclass: Theria
Infraclass: Eutheria
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Felidae
Subfamily: Pantherinae
Genus & species: Panthera tigris


Subspecies:


Panthera tigris altaica (Siberian tiger, Amur tiger)
Panthera tigris amoyensis (South China tiger)
Panthera tigris balica (Bali tiger, Balinese tiger)
Panthera tigris corbetti (Corbett's tiger, Indochinese tiger, Indo-Chinese tiger)
Panthera tigris jacksoni (Malayan tiger)
Panthera tigris sondaica (Javan tiger)
Panthera tigris sumatrae (Sumatran tiger)
Panthera tigris tigris (Bengal tiger)
Panthera tigris virgata (Caspian tiger)



Three subspecies are now extinct:

Bali tiger (Panthera t. balica)
Javan tiger (Panthera t. sondaica)
Caspian tiger (Panthera t. virgata)


The Javan tiger was last recorded in the 1970s, the Caspian tiger was lost in the 1950s, and the Bali tiger became extinct in the 1930s, according to Panthera, a wild cat conservation organization.



Other facts



Tigers are fantastic swimmers. They can forge rivers and lakes that are 3.7 to 5 miles (6 to 8 km) wide, according to Woodland Park Zoo.

Lions and tigers are closely related. If you shaved them you wouldn't be able to tell them apart because their body structure is so similar, according to the Smithsonian National Zoo.

Their teeth can be very long, as well. Some tigers have teeth as long as 3 inches (7 cm).



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