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Tiger

Panthera tigris

The tiger (Panthera tigris) is the largest living cat and one of the five extant “big cats” in the genus Panthera (alongside the lion, leopard, jaguar, and snow leopard). It is easily recognized by its dark vertical stripes on an orange coat with a paler underside. Tigers are apex predators that primarily hunt ungulates (hoofed mammals) such as deer and wild boar, usually by stalking and ambush. They are mostly solitary and territorial; the main long-term social bond is between a mother and her cubs, and adults communicate with scent marks, scratches, and vocalizations. Tiger size varies by population; Amur (Siberian) tigers are often cited as among the largest, with adult males reaching up to ~660 lb (300 kg) and measuring up to ~10 ft (~3 m) from nose to tail tip. The species is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and has lost more than 93% of its historic range, now persisting in scattered populations in 13 countries, a key reason habitat fragmentation and human conflict remain major challenges.

The tiger (Panthera tigris) is the largest living cat and one of the five extant “big cats” in the genus Panthera (alongside the lion, leopard, jaguar, and snow leopard). It is easily recognized by its dark vertical stripes on an orange coat with a paler underside. Tigers are apex predators that primarily hunt ungulates (hoofed mammals) such as deer and wild boar, usually by stalking and ambush. They are mostly solitary and territorial; the main long-term social bond is between a mother and her cubs, and adults communicate with scent marks, scratches, and vocalizations. Tiger size varies by population; Amur (Siberian) tigers are often cited as among the largest, with adult males reaching up to ~660 lb (300 kg) and measuring up to ~10 ft (~3 m) from nose to tail tip. The species is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and has lost more than 93% of its historic range, now persisting in scattered populations in 13 countries, a key reason habitat fragmentation and human conflict remain major challenges.