The tiger is the largest wild cat species, having a powerful and muscular body, large head, robust paws and long tail, covered in orange fur with black vertical stripes and whitish abdomen. It is an apex predator, recognized for its strength and agility, with eight described subspecies, of which the Bengal (P. t. tigris) is the most numerous and the Siberian (P. t. altaica) the largest in size.
Habits
Tigers are solitary and territorial, marking their area with urine and vocal sounds, being primarily active at dusk and night to stalk their prey through ambush and surprise attacks, relying more on sight and hearing than smell for hunting.
Reproduction
Tigers mate throughout the year, without a strict season, and the female has a gestation period of approximately 104-106 days, usually giving birth to 2-4 cubs that stay with their mother for up to two years when they reach independence.
Distribution
It has a Holo-Asian distribution, from temperate forests in South-Eastern Russia and the Himalayas to tropical forests and mangroves in South-East Asia and the Sunda islands (Sumatra, Java, Bali), preferring varied habitats, from coniferous and deciduous forests to savannas and coastal swamps.
