The tiger (Panthera Tigris) is of the order Carnivora and
the family Felidae. There are nine sub species of tiger with the most common
being the Bengal and the Siberian. Tigers are native to
the Asian continent and one of the largest big cats on the planet. The tiger is
meat eater and a predator with few natural enemies. A tiger can grow as large
as 11 feet in length and weigh just less than 700 pounds.
Distinguishing features of the tiger include striped red,
orange, white and black fur to help with savannah and grass land camouflage. They
have a white fringe of fur around the face, powerful leg muscles, giant paws
pads and white spots on the back of their ears used by other tigers to predict
social behavior.
Tigers are one of the few feline species that seek out
water. They like to range in grasslands, forests or jungles that offer both a
good place to hide from the sun and prey as well as a place to swim. They enjoy
a variety of food including wild boars, sloths, buffalos, deer, pythons and
monkeys. The tiger is a reasonably self sufficient and solitary creature.
All six living species of tiger are on the endangered
species list.