What kind of animal is a tiger? We will explain its characteristics, ecology, and habitat. It can be said to be the king of carnivores, feared even by humans. Unfortunately, tigers are hunted and are at risk of extinction all over the world. Most tiger populations have decreased dramatically and are now listed as endangered species.
What is a tiger? About basic status
A tiger is a carnivorous animal classified in the class Mammalia, order Carnivora, family Felidae, genus Leopard. The scientific name is Panthera tigris, which means “tiger” in kanji. The body length is 140-220cm and the weight is 90-300kg. The list of information is as follows. It has sharp eyes and lives in forests.
| Japanese（和名） | トラ |
| English（英名） | Tiger |
| scientific name(学名) | Panthera tigris |
| classification（分類） | Mammalia、Carnivora、 Felidae 、Panthera 哺乳綱、食肉目、ネコ科、ヒョウ属 |
| IUCN Status(保全状況) | ENDANGERED |
| Length（体長） | 140-220cm |
| Weight（体重） | 90 – 300kg |
About classification
There are many subspecies of tigers. We will introduce each species, including species that have become extinct.
| 名前 | English Name | Scientific Name(学名) |
| ベンガルトラ | Bengal tiger | Panthera tigris tigris |
| アムールトラ | Siberian tiger | Panthera tigris altaica |
| アモイトラ | South China tiger | Panthera tigris amoyensis |
| バリトラ | Balinese Tiger | Panthera tigris balica |
| インドシナトラ | Indochinese tiger | Panthera tigris corbetti |
| ジャワトラ | Javan Tiger | Panthera tigris ssp. sondaica |
| スマトラトラ | Sumatran Tiger | Panthera tigris sumatrae |
| カスピトラ | Caspian tiger | Panthera tigris virgata |
Panthera tigris tigris
The Bengal tiger is a subspecies of the tiger, which is a type of cat and is distributed in India. Males have a total length of 270 – 310cm, females 240 – 265cm, body color is orange or reddish brown, and the belly is black. They live mainly in forests, but also in wetland grasslands and riverside bushes, but their numbers have been drastically reduced due to hunting. It is listed on Appendix I of the Washington Convention and is designated as an endangered species.
Panthera tigris altaica
The Amur tiger is 2.5 meters long and lives in Russia. As they are the largest living cat species and live in cold regions, their winter coat is more than three times longer than their summer coat. There have been incidents of attacks on people and livestock, resulting in a sharp decline in retaliation. It is listed on Appendix I of the Washington Convention and is designated as an endangered species.
Panthera tigris amoyensis
The Amoy tiger used to live in China, but is now extinct. Males have a total length of 230-265 cm, females 220-240 cm, and their stripes are thick, short, and few in number.
Panthera tigris balica
The Bali tiger is a tiger that can only be seen on the Indonesian island of Bali. They were hunted for their fur and for entertainment, and became extinct around 1940. With a total length of 211 cm, it was the smallest subspecies of tigers.
Panthera tigris corbetti
The Indochinese tiger is a tiger that lives in Southeast Asia. The body length is 2.25-2.85m and the weight is 150-180kg. The fur on the back is reddish brown and the stripes are thin and short. In 2017, there were only 250 individuals left, and it is listed as an endangered species.
Panthera tigris ssp. sondaica
The Javan tiger is a tiger that can only be seen on the island of Java, Indonesia. Already extinct. The cause was deforestation and hunting. It was a small tiger, measuring 248 cm in length and weighing between 100 and 141 kg.
Panthera tigris sumatrae
The Sumatran tiger is a tiger that lives only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The body color is dull, yellowish-reddish brown, and there are only 300 to 500 individuals left in the wild. It is designated as an endangered species.
Panthera tigris virgata
Caspian tigers live around the Caspian Sea. Also known as Persian tiger. It is medium-sized and has a dark orange-tinged body with a dark coat on its back and a white underside. Extinct due to hunting.
About habitat
Tigers are distributed mainly in Asia. They also live in frigid regions such as Siberia and tropical regions such as Nepal and Japan.
feature is? What kind of creature is it?
Male tigers are larger than females. The snout is thick and short, and the jaws are strong. The muscles in the forelimbs are well developed and the hind limbs are suitable for jumping. The striped pattern blends in with the surroundings in bushes and obscures the outline, making it suitable for sneaking up on prey without being noticed. Tigers prefer tropical rainforests and are nocturnal and solitary. The home range is longer for Russian tigers and narrower for Asian tigers.
What is your personality like?
Tigers have a big heart and a kind personality full of humanity. If humans raise them from an early age, they may become attached to humans. He is insightful and stays calm in any situation.
What is the ecology like?
Tigers are carnivorous animals, mainly hunting deer, fish, insects and other living creatures anywhere, and eating mammals. They have a very low success rate, but will try anything. They reproduce by viviparity. The breeding season varies by region, but in India they tend to breed mainly from February to May. The gestation period is about four months. They give birth to 1-6 young at a time. Half of the young die within the first two years of life, and males may sometimes kill them. They live for about 20 years.
Do tigers have natural enemies?
Tigers have no natural enemies. Only humans. They have been known throughout the country for a long time, and poaching for their manes and brown fur is on the rise. Tigers are useful in daily life, so overhunting is also noticeable along with cheetahs.
Are tigers an endangered species?
As mentioned above, tigers are all endangered species. The reason is simple: they attack and kill humans too. As a result of retaliation, the number of cases has continued to decline sharply and is expected to continue to decline. Furthermore, their population is decreasing due to habitat destruction. Conservation efforts have begun for wild boars, elephants and lions.
Can you keep a tiger as a pet?
Tigers are large and cannot be kept as pets in daily life. There have been cases of tigers killing zookeepers in zoos, so they are very dangerous. We recommend that you watch tigers at large events for children. Check the news for more information.
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