The tiger

The tiger (Panthera tigris) is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to 3.38 m (11.1 ft) over curves and weighing up to 388.7 kg (857 lb) in the wild. Its most recognisable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with a lighter underside. The species is classified in the genus Panthera with the lion, leopard, jaguar and snow leopard. Tigers are apex predators.

The largest of all the Asian big cats, tigers rely primarily on sight and sound rather than smell. They typically hunt alone and stalk prey. A tiger can consume up to 88 pounds of meat at one time. On average, tigers give birth to 2-3 cubs every 2-2.5 years. If all the cubs in one litter die, a second litter may be produced within 5 months.

Tigers generally gain independence at two years of age and attain sexual maturity at 3-4 years for females and at 4-5 years for males. Juvenile mortality is high however—about half of all cubs do not survive more than two years. Tigers have been known to reach the age of 26 years in the wild.

Males of the largest subspecies, the Amur (Siberian) tiger, may weigh up to 660 pounds. For males of the smallest subspecies—the Sumatran tiger—upper range is at around 310 pounds. Within each subspecies, males are heavier than females. Tigers are mostly solitary, apart from associations between mother and offspring. Individual tigers have a large territory and the size is determined mostly by the availability of prey. Although individuals do not patrol their territories, they visit over a period of days or weeks and mark their territory with urine and feces.

TIGER

SUBMITTED BY:NAGINA CHAWLA2010ARA118

Across their range, tigers face unrelenting pressure from poaching, retaliatory killings and habitat loss. They are forced to compete for space with dense and often growing human populations.

There were once nine subspecies of tigers: Bengal, Siberian, Indochinese, South Chinese, Sumatran, Malayan, Caspian, Javan and Bali. Of these, the last three are extinct, one is extinct in the wild, and the rest are endangered.

Height: 3/3 ½ feet (.9 - 1.1m) at shoulders.Length: Head and body length 4.6 - 9.2 (1.4 - 2.8m) feet (tail length 2-3 feet (0.6 - 0.9m).Weight: The Siberian tiger is the largest subspecies and males weigh from around 400-675 lbs (181-306 kg), while the Sumatran tiger, the smallest living subspecies, weighs in from around 220-310 lbs (100-136 kg).Females of all tiger subspecies are smaller than males.Lifespan 10-15 years

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

SizeCline MorphologyFour out the five living tiger subspecies' morphology (physical structure and appearance) exhibit a cline. A cline occurs when a single species gradually begins to look different over its geographic distribution as it adapts to varying climates and habitats. Therefore the species at the northern end of their geographic distribution may look very different in size, color, hair-density, etc. than their southern counterparts. The Tiger cline depicts subspecies decrease in size and have darker stripe coloration the further south their range extends.

The largest tigers are found in the north, gradually becoming smaller in the south.

Adult male Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) may weigh up to 300 kg. (660 lb) and measure about 3.3 m. (10.9 ft) in length. Females are smaller, weighing between 100 to 167 kg (200 to 370 lb) and measure about 2.6 meters (8.5 ft) in length.

Adult male Bengal tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) weigh about 220 kg (480 lb) and measure about 2.9 m (9.5 ft) in length. Females are slightly smaller with an average weight of 140 kg (300 lb) and 2.5 m (8 ft) in length.

The South China tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis) are native to South Central China. Males weigh about 150 kg (330 lb) and are about 2.5 m (8 ft) in length. Females weigh are smaller, weighing about 110 kg (240 lb) and are about 2.3 m (7.5 ft) in length.

Adult male Indo-Chinese tigers (Panthera tigris corbetti) may weigh up to 182 kg (400 lb) and measure about 2.8 m (9ft) in length. Females are smaller, weighing about 115 kg (250 lb) and measure about 2.4 meters (8 ft) in length.


Adult male Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae) may weigh up to 120 kg (265 lb) and measure about 2.4 m (8 ft) in length. Females are slightly smaller, weighing about 90 kg (198 lb) and measure about 2.2 m (7 ft) in length.

Legs, Feet & Claws The hind legs of the tiger are longer than their front legs. This

characteristic enables them to leap forward distances up to 10 meters (32.5 ft).

The bones of the tiger's front legs are strong and dense to support the large musculature needed to take down large prey.

The bones in each of the tiger's feet are tightly connected by ligaments enabling them to buffer the impact of landing from running, pouncing and leaping.

Tigers have large padded feet that enable them to silently stalk prey in the Asian jungles.


The claws of the tiger are up to 10 centimeters (4 in) in length and are used to grasp and hold onto prey. Each paw has four of these claws and one specialized claw called a dewclaw. A dewclaw is located farther back on the foot and thereby does not touch the ground when walking. Dewclaws function similarly to thumbs in that they are used for grasping prey and aid in climbing.

Tiger claws are retractable in that ligaments hold them in a protective skin sheath when their not being used. The ligaments are in a relaxed position when the claws are retracted thereby expending no musculature effort. Tigers retract their claws to ensure that they remain sharp for times when they are needed and to tread silently up to unsuspecting prey. Other ligaments will extract the claws when attacking prey or defending themselves which does require musculature effort.

Tiger claws are curved which enables them to superiorly grasp and hold large prey and climb trees head-first. However, the claws' curvature, the tiger's size and weight is a great hindrance in climbing down from trees. Tigers must either crawl backwards or jump down from trees, making them the most inferior climbers of the big cat family.

The padded feet of a Bengal tiger that enables it to silently stalk prey

Head & Collarbone The skull of the tiger is stout and rounded in shape which provides more

support for their powerful jaws.


The stout, rounded shape of the tiger's head provides support for its powerful jaws.

The sagittal crest is a bony ridge on top of the tiger's skull that attaches its powerful jaw muscles.

Tigers' powerful jaw muscles are attached to a bony ridge that lay on top of the skull called the sagittal crest. These muscles function to rapidly clamp down on prey with crushing force.

Tigers have a reduced-sized clavicle (collarbone). This characteristic enables them to attain greater stride lengths because the smaller clavicle allows for a wider, unrestricted range of movement of the scapula (shoulder blade) when running.


Dentition Tigers have fewer teeth than other carnivores such as dogs (42 teeth)

with only 30 teeth. All cats have deciduous (temporary) teeth that come in within a week or

two after birth. These teeth are referred to as milk teeth similar to humans' baby teeth. The milk teeth are eventually replaced by the permanent ones. Therefore they are seldom without a set of teeth.

Tigers have the largest canines of all big cat species.

Tigers have the largest canines of all big cat species ranging in size from 6.4 to 7.6 centimeters (2.5 to 3.0 in) in length. The canines have abundant pressure-sensing nerves that enable the tiger to identify the location needed to sever the neck of its prey.

The back teeth of the tiger are called carnassials which enables the tiger to shear meat from their prey like knife blades. They swallow large-sheared pieces of meat whole.

Tigers are capable of penetrating deeply into their prey because of the large gap between the carnassials (back teeth) and the canines hold prey tightly.

The small incisors located in the front of the mouth (between the two top and bottom canines) enable the tiger to pick off meat and feathers from their prey.

Digestion The process of converting meat to protein (needed for energy) is

significantly less complicated in carnivores than it is to convert grass to protein as some herbivores require. Carnivores do not require the vast amount of microbes (microscopic bacteria) living in their intestines to break down indigestible plant cellulose. Therefore tigers and other carnivores have small and light weight stomachs that do not hinder them when they are accelerating quickly to chase prey.


Tail A tiger's tail is about one meter in length (3 ft) and may play a part in

their visual communication (see communication- vision section).

Tigers use their tails to enhance their visual communication.

Tigers use their tail for balance when making sharp turns in pursuit of prey.

Tongue

The tiger's tongue is covered with numerous small, sharp, rear-facing projections called papillae. These papillae gives the tongue is rough, rasping texture and is designed to help strip feathers, fur and meat from prey.

Tigers have papillae-covered tongues that help them strip feathers, fur and meat from prey.


Hair & Coloration The hair of the tiger provides camouflage, warmth and protection for

them. Tigers possess two types of hair, guard hair and underfur. The guard hairs

are longer and more durable than the underfur and mainly function for protection purposes. The primary function of the tiger's hair is for warmth. The underfur traps air which insulates the tiger's body thereby keeping it warm.

Tigers are the only large cat species to have distinctive striping located on both the hair and skin of the tiger.

Single-loop striping

Double-loop striping

Many tigers possess stripes on their face, sides, legs and stomach. The striping is varied in width, length, whether they are single or double-looped, coloration from a light brown to dark black and are not symmetrical from one side of the tiger to the other.


The Chinese character of Wang means King.

The stripe pattern on top of the tiger's head resembles the Wang character.

The stripe patterning on top of the tiger's head resembles the Chinese character of "wang" which means "king."

Tiger Background Coloration: Many tigers possess the light yellow-orange to deep reddish-orange

background coloration. Black or melanistic colored tigers have been reported but further

research is required before assessing whether these sightings were of true melanistic tigers or darker versions of the orange tiger (with few large broad dark stripes).

Tigers with white background coloration are not considered albinos. An albino would be pure white in color (no striping) and would have pink or red eyes. White tigers are leucocystic meaning that they have a recessive gene that causes them to lack dark colors. Therefore they usually have a white color with light to medium brown striping and blue eyes. For unknown reasons, white tigers seem to grow bigger and at a faster rate than their orange counterparts.

Tiger background coloration is variable.

There have been reported sightings of blue tigers. There is little evidence supporting this color variation in tigers. However, since the blue colored trait exists in some lynx and bobcat families; it is not ruled out as a possibility.


Tigers have distinctive white circular spots on the backside of their ears.

TAXONOMY AND ETYMOLOGYIn 1758, Linnaeus first described the species in his work Systema Naturae under the scientific name Felis tigris. In 1929, the British taxonomist Reginald Innes Pocock subordinated the species under the genus Panthera using the scientific name Panthera tigris.

The word Panthera is probably of Oriental origin and retraceable to the Ancient Greek word panther, the Latin word panthera, the Old French word pantere, most likely meaning "the yellowish animal", or from pandarah meaning whitish-yellow. The derivation from Greek pan- ("all") and ther ("beast") may be folk etymology.

The specific epithet, tigris, as well as the common name, tiger, come from the Middle English tigre and the Old English tigras (a plural word), both used for the animal.

BEHAVIOURTigers occupy a variety of habitats from tropical forests, evergreen forests, woodlands and mangrove swamps to grasslands, savannah and rocky country. They are mostly nocturnal (more active at night) and are ambush predators that rely on the camouflage their stripes provide. Tigers use their body weight to knock prey to the ground and kills with a bite to the neck. They are also very good swimmers and have been known to kill prey while swimming.Tigers essentially live solitary lives, except during mating season and when females bear young. They are usually fiercely territorial and have and mark their large home ranges.

REPRODUCTIONMating Season: In tropical climates, mostly from around November to April; during the winter months in temperate regions.Gestation: 103 days.Litter size: 3-4 cubs.

Cubs follow their mother out of the den at around 8 weeks and become independent at around 18 months of age. They leave their mothers at about 2 ½ years. Mothers guard their young from wandering males that may kill the cubs to make the female receptive to mating.

THREATS TO TIGERSAs climate change continues to warm the planet, tigers are feeling the heat. As we see ocean levels rise, tigers are losing habitat due to costal erosion in areas like India's Sundarban islands. As rising sea levels claim more habitat and sea water moves up river, naturally fresh water is becoming more saline, or more highly concentrated with salt. These factors are forcing the tigers to move northward towards areas more heavily populated by humans and increasing the likelihood of animal/human conflicts.

Tigers are also facing many other threats. They are illegally killed or poached because their pelts are valuable in the black market trade, their body parts are used in traditional Asian medicines and they are seen as threats to human communities. There is also large scale habitat loss due to human population growth and expansion. Human encroachment into tiger habitat also decreases prey animals.

The tiger's closest living relatives are the lion, leopard and jaguar, all of which are classified under the genus Panthera. A 2010 genetic analysis shows the tiger began evolving 3.2 million years ago, and it may be more closely related to the snow leopard than other Panthera species.

Wild tiger numbers are at an all-time low. We have lost 97% of wild tigers in just over a century. Tigers may be one of the most revered animals, but they are also vulnerable to extinction. As few as 3,200 exist in the wild today.

HABITAT LOSSTigers have lost 93% of their historic range. Their habitat has been destroyed, degraded and fragmented by human activities, including the clearing of forests for agriculture and timber trade and development activities such as the building of road networks. Fewer tigers can survive in small, scattered islands of habitat, which lead to a higher risk of inbreeding. These small islands of habitat also make tigers more vulnerable to poaching.

HUMAN WILDLIFE CONFLICTPeople and tigers increasingly compete for space. The conflict threatens the world’s remaining wild tigers and poses a major problem for communities living in or near tiger forests. As forests shrink and prey gets scarce, tigers are forced to hunt domestic livestock, which many local communities depend on for their livelihood. In retaliation, tigers are killed or captured. “Conflict” tigers are known to end up for sale in black markets. Local community dependence on forests for fuelwood, food and timber also heightens the risk of tiger attacks.


EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGEOne of the world’s largest tiger populations is found in the Sundarbans—a large mangrove forest area shared by India and Bangladesh on the northern coast of the Indian Ocean. This area harbors Bengal tigers and protects coastal regions from storm surges and wind damage. However, rising sea levels caused by climate change threaten to wipe out these forests and the last remaining habitat of this tiger population. According to a WWF study, without mitigation efforts, projected sea level rise—nearly a foot by 2070—could destroy nearly the entire Sundarbans tiger habitat.

CONSERVATIONThe tiger is an iconic species, and tiger conservation is involved in attempts to prevent the animal from becoming extinct and preserving its natural habitat. This is one of the main objectives of international animal conservation charities. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has played a crucial role in improving international efforts for tiger conservation.

Project Tiger, started in 1972, is a major effort to conserve the tiger and its habitats in India. At the turn of the 20th century, one estimate of the tiger population in India placed the figure at 40,000, yet an Indian tiger census conducted in 1972 revealed the existence of only 1827 tigers. Various pressures in the latter part of the 20th century led to the progressive decline of wilderness resulting in the disturbance of viable tiger habitats. At the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) General Assembly meeting in Delhi in 1969, serious concern was voiced about the threat to several species of wildlife, and the shrinkage of wilderness in India from poaching. In 1970, a national ban on tiger hunting was imposed, and in 1972 the Wildlife Protection Act came into force. The framework was then set to formulate a project for tiger conservation with an ecological approach. Today, there are 27 Project Tiger wildlife reserves in India, covering an area of 37,761 km².

A program called the Terai-Arc Landscape (TAL) has been working directly with improving tiger habitats, specifically fragmented habitats in Nepal and northern India. Their main strategy is to link up the subpopulations of tigers that have been separated by setting up special tiger corridors that connect the fragmented habitats. The corridors are built to promote migration and/or dispersion of certain tiger populations giving them the ability to unite with other tigers. Giving tigers the ability to mate with a larger selection of individuals will increase the gene pool for the tigers, which will lead to more diversity, higher birth rates, and higher cub survival.

The STF founded in 1995 by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and focuses on preserving wild tigers. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) also contributes to tiger conservation. They have set an ambitious goal called Tx2 to double the wild tiger population by 2022.The Global Tiger Initiative (GTI) is an alliance between governments created to save wild tigers from going extinct founded in June of 2008.[44] Among other successful conservation programs the GTI developed The Global Tiger Recovery Program (GRTP) to assist in reaching the goal of doubling the number of wild tigers through


effective management and restoration of tiger habitats; the elimination of poaching, smuggling, and illegal trade of tigers, and their parts; collaboration to manage borders and in stopping illegal trade; working with indigenous and local communities; and returning tigers to their former range.

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The tiger