1. |
Cat species comprise about 16% of
the world's carnivores. The taxonomic classification has fluctuated
since new morphological and genetic research has been documented. |
2. |
The Felidae family has 18 genera
encompassing about 40 species. There are 13 genera within the Felinae
subfamily, 4 genera within the Pantherinae subfamily and 1 within the
Acinonychinae subfamily. |
3. |
There are eight recognized subspecies of
tiger, five of which are living (Bengal, Amur, Indo-Chinese, Sumatran
and South China tigers). These subspecies are distinguished by their
geographic distribution and physical characteristics such as size, hair
length and/or thickness and striping. |
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The Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)
has reddish-orange colored fur with dark brown-black vertical stripes.
Bengal tigers may weigh up to 220 kg (480 lb) and are about 2.9 m (9.5
ft) in length. They inhabit the Indian subcontinent, India, Nepal,
Bangledesh and Burma. This is the subspecies found at Busch Gardens
Tampa Bay. |
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The Bengal tiger has reddish-orange colored fur with dark brown-black vertical stripes. |
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The Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica)
is the largest living cat species, weighing up to 300 kg. (660 lb) and
is about 3.3 m. (10.9 ft) in length. Historically they were called
Siberian tigers but have since been renamed because they are currently
found near the Amur River region of Russia, China and North Korea, not
Siberia. Amur tigers have lighter and fewer stripes than other tiger
subspecies. They have long and thick hair to help them stay warm in
their cold climate. |
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The Indo-Chinese tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti)
is one of the smallest tiger subspecies, weighing up to 182 kg (400 lb)
and is about 2.8 m (9ft) in length. They have a large range
encompassing continental southeast Asia region (southern China, Laos,
Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and eastern Burma). |
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The South China tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis)
are native to South Central China. They may weigh up to 150 kg (330 lb)
and are about 2.5 m (8 ft) in length. South China tigers are the most
critically endangered of all tiger subspecies with a population estimate
between 30 to 80 individuals. |
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The Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae)
is the smallest living tiger subspecies, weighing up to 120 kg (265 lb)
and is about 2.4 m (8 ft) in length. They are found in Sumatra, part of
Indonesia. The Sumatran tiger's fur is darker in coloration than other
tiger species with a deep orange to reddish coat and black stripes. |
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The Javan tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica)
was exclusively found in Java Indonesia and went extinct in the early
1980's They had thin black stripes that were usually double-looped. The
Javan and Bali tigers were very similar in their small size weighing
only 90 to 90 kg (200 to 220 lb) |
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The Caspian tiger (Panthera tigris virgata)
was native from Turkey through central and west Asia and went extinct
around the 1950's. They had a distinctive style for hunting in that they
stalked migrating prey over long distances rather than holding
territories like other tiger subspecies. |
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The Balinese tiger (Panthera tigris balica)
was exclusively found in Bali in Indonesia and went extinct in the
early 1930's. The Javan and Bali tigers were very similar in their small
size weighing only 90 to 90 kg (200 to 220 lb). |
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