Bengal Tiger - Panthera Tigris Tigris
Predator Conservation Trust: Tiger Information: Panthera Tigris
DESCRIPTION
The Tiger is one of the most widely recognisable animals in the world - its
distinctive striped coat with black stripes on an orange background is instantly
recognised. The underside is mainly white. Male Tigers have a
prominent ruff on their heads. Some white tigers exist - particularly in
captivity and these are a result of breeding two tigers which both have a
particular recessive gene.
Tigers vary in size between the different subspecies, ranging from 1.4 to 2.8
metres long plus another 600 to 1100mm for the tail. They range in height
from around 80 centimetres to 110 centimetres. Siberian Tigers are the
largest subspecies and the Sumatran is the smallest subspecies.
Photo courtesy of
Liz Leyden
HABITAT
The Tiger is found in a wide variety of habitats around the world, ranging
from very cold areas (e.g. Siberia, home to the Siberian Tiger) to hot and humid
areas (such as Indonesia and Malaysia). Tigers are found in tropical
rainforests, evergreen forests, mangrove swamps, grasslands, savannah and rocky
country.
DISTRIBUTION
The Bengal Tiger (Panthera Tigris Tigris) is found in parts of Burma,
Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan.
The Indochinese Tiger (Panthera Tigris Corbetti) is found in parts of Eastern
Burma, Vietnam and Thailand.
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