Basic Information
Tigers are the largest living cats in the world and belong to the species Panthera tigris!
Tigers
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Facts About Tigers
A group of tigers is called an “ambush” or a “streak,” though tigers usually live alone!
Tigers are one of only five living species in the big cat genus Panthera, along with lions, jaguars, leopards, and snow leopards!
Tigers can live up to 20–26 years in captivity, but usually only live 10–15 years in the wild!
The largest male tigers can weigh as much as 670 pounds (304 kilograms) — that’s heavier than eight 10-year-old kids combined!
A male tiger is called a tiger, a female is called a tigress, and a baby is called a cub!
Tigers are carnivores, which means they only eat meat and need to hunt other animals to survive!
Tigers belong to the mammal class, which means mother tigers feed their babies milk!
There are currently six subspecies of tigers recognized by scientists: Bengal, Siberian (Amur), Sumatran, Malayan, Indochinese, and South China tigers!
Tigers are classified as mammals in the family Felidae, making them cousins to your pet cat!
Physical Characteristics
Every tiger has a unique pattern of stripes, just like how every human has unique fingerprints!
Tigers have soft, sensitive whiskers that can grow up to 6 inches (15 cm) long — as long as a new pencil!
A tiger’s tongue is covered in tiny hooks called papillae that help them scrape meat off bones and groom their fur!
Tigers have large paws that can be up to 8 inches (20 cm) wide — about the size of a dinner plate!
An adult tiger’s canine teeth can grow up to 4 inches (10 cm) long — longer than a grown-up’s index finger!
Tigers have excellent night vision and can see six times better in the dark than humans!
A tiger’s stripes aren’t just in their fur — the pattern is also marked on their skin underneath!
Tigers have a special reflective layer behind their eyes called the tapetum lucidum that helps them see better at night!
A tiger’s front legs are so strong they can kill small prey with just one swipe of their paw!
Tigers have retractable claws that stay sharp because they’re hidden inside their paws when not in use!
The fur on a tiger’s belly is much softer and lighter in color than the fur on its back!
An adult tiger can be up to 12 feet (3.7 meters) long from nose to tail — that’s longer than a small car!
A tiger’s tail can be up to 3 feet (1 meter) long and helps them balance when running and turning quickly!
Tigers’ ears have white spots on the back that help cubs follow their mother through tall grass!
A tiger’s brain is about 300 cubic centimeters in volume — about the size of a small orange!
Behavior & Intelligence
Tigers are excellent swimmers and can cross rivers up to 18 miles (29 kilometers) wide!
Tigers make different sounds to communicate — they can roar, growl, chuff (a friendly greeting sound), and even purr!
Tigers mark their territory by spraying scent, scratching trees, and leaving other signals that can last for several weeks!
Adult tigers prefer to live alone and may patrol territories as large as 40 square miles (100 square kilometers)!
Tigers can jump forward up to 20 feet (6 meters) in a single leap — that’s as long as a giraffe is tall!
Tigers remember and avoid traps they’ve encountered before, showing they can learn from experience!
Tigers are most active at dawn and dusk, which scientists call being “crepuscular”!
Tigers are such good swimmers that they can catch fish and even crocodiles in the water!
Tigers can leap as high as 16 feet (5 meters) in the air — higher than a basketball hoop!
Tigers can remember familiar individuals they haven’t seen for years!
Tigers often play with their food before eating it, which helps them practice hunting skills!
Unlike most cats, tigers enjoy playing in water and will often lie in streams or ponds to cool off!
Tigers may travel up to 12 miles (20 kilometers) in a single night while hunting or patrolling their territory!
Habitat & Survival
Wild tigers can be found in many different habitats, from snowy mountains to tropical rainforests!
Tigers once lived across most of Asia, but now they’re found in just 7% of their historical range!
Tigers can survive in temperatures ranging from -35°F (-37°C) to over 100°F (38°C)!
Tigers often rest in water to stay cool on hot days and to keep biting insects away!
A tiger’s stripes help them hide in tall grass and forest shadows while hunting!
Tigers can live at altitudes up to 13,000 feet (4,000 meters) in the Himalayan mountains!
Tigers need to drink water every day and can lap up several gallons in one sitting!
Tigers usually hunt alone and at night when their excellent night vision gives them an advantage!
Tigers can climb trees but prefer to stay on the ground unless threatened!
Some tigers live in snowy regions where their thick winter coat keeps them warm in temperatures as low as -40°F (-40°C)!
Each tiger needs its own territory with enough prey animals and water sources to survive!
