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Tigers belong to the family Felidae, which is an elegant way of saying cats. Many of you know of cats, have been around cats, or maybe your best friend is a cat – hey no judgment here, I might have one or two of those. No matter your experience or perspective on this type of critter, one thing is rather obvious, they are the rulers of their territory, or at least they think they are… no matter if it is the living room or the jungle. BUT to be real if anyone is the ruler of their domain, it would be the mighty, majestic, magnificent tiger.
Like the long-term argument of cats vs. dogs (which I gotta say I think should be dropped, as they both have lovely qualities), there has been a lot of back and forth on deciding how many subspecies of tigers there are. Some say two, others say there are nine. For fun, let’s say there are nine. After all, cats have nine lives, do they not?!
Size: 5 – 8 feet, from nose to tail
Weight: 240 – 500 pounds
Size: 10 – 13 feet, from nose to tail
Weight: ~ 660 pounds
Size: ~ 9 feet, from nose to tail
Weight: 396 – 550 pounds
Size: 6 – 6.5 feet, from nose to tail
Weight: 220 – 430 pounds
Size: Up to 8 feet, from nose to tail
Weight: ~ 260 pounds
Learn more about the Sumatran Tigers – Keep Reading!
Size: 6 – 8 feet, from nose to tail
Weight: 187 – 310 pounds
Size: ~ 10 feet, from nose to tail
Weight: 375 – 530 pounds
Size: 6 – 8 feet, from nose to tail
Weight: 170 – 220 pounds
To answer this question we need to take a moment and open our imaginations. Start playing this audio for an immersive experience, and then please do continue to read :
It is a hot summer day, the kind of day where you are searching for a cold refreshing drink of water just to take the edge off. You are slowly dragging through the forest following the sound of a flowing stream. It calls to you. With each step, you brush the hanging branches and vines to make a path. There is one extremely annoying bug that keeps flying in your face – no, let’s make it 50 bugs! Bzzzzzzzz bzzzzzz bzzzzzz. The sounds overwhelm your mind, the birds, frogs, those pesky bugs. And that ever-growing sound of sweet refreshing water flowing in the distance.
Then suddenly – it gets quiet. You no longer hear the frogs, or birds, or bugs. (You still hear the water, because it is water, and ain’t no stopping that flow.) A shiver creeps up your spine. Your arm hairs stand up straighter than a scorpion tail that is about to attack. And there right before you, you see with terror…
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Oh, what do you see?!
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Dagger teeth, bent legs, some serious eye contact, a beast that is ready to pounce. What will your dehydrated body do next?!
In this scenario you might be something like this (Tapir):
Or this (Bornean bearded pig):
But no matter what species you are, it is hard to imagine something so big and strong that can sneak up on almost any living thing in the endangered category, but alas that is the reality. Even more shocking, three of the nine subspecies of tigers are extinct.
This word, extinction, is used when a species no longer exists in the wild or in captivity.
– The Javan Tiger
– The Caspian Tiger
– The Balinese Tiger
So now we are down to six subspecies of tigers. And out of those six, the Sumatran Tiger is the most at risk for being next on the extinction list.
Sumatran Tigers (also called Sunda Tigers) are the smallest of the tiger subspecies. On average they are 8 feet, from nose to tail, and about 260 pounds. But I would never tell them that they are the smallest. I mean, did you see the photo earlier?! That is a pretty mighty 260 pounds, and of course, you have to account for the long sharp teeth and don’t forget about the claws.
Their small stature is not the only thing that makes them stand out from the other tigers. They also have larger manes, which is the fur that is around their face. Also another point of contention… Some people say tigers have manes and others say they don’t – I’ll let you decide. But nonetheless, this subspecies has more fur around their face than some of the others.
And typically their stripes are closer together. Because they are extra. Extra fabulous! (Just kidding, all tigers are fabulous. Don’t tell the other tigers I said that… please.)
Tiger stripes are not just for show. They are an important physical trait/tool that biologists call disruptive coloration. How does it work? This visual helps break up the tiger’s outline. Making it difficult for other animals to see it when walking through tall grasses, bushes, or tree lines. It helps them blend in. And this trait is key to their survival. Unlike a lion, tigers hunt alone so they heavily rely on camouflage and stealth to find their next meal.
And Sumatran Tigers are thought to have stripes that are closer together than other tigers because of where they live. We will dig into that more shortly.
Another cool thing about the patterns on tigers that you may or may not have noticed are the white spots on the back of their ears:
Tigers have white spots surrounded by black fur on the back of their ears. It is thought that these spots act as fake eyes to warn any other species from attacking from behind. How cool is that?!
“This subspecies was once found across several parts of the Sunda islands in Indonesia. Today, all remaining Sunda tigers are found only in Sumatra.” – WWF
Sumatran Tigers are found in only the forest habitats, grasslands, and wetlands of Indonesia. Where is Indonesia? Check out the map below 👇👇👇👇👇👇
If you didn’t know, cats are kinda known to HATE water. There are those rare occasions where you might find a home cat ready for any water adventure. A great example is Phil. Phil loves the water:
But in general, cats prefer to give themselves baths, not get a bath. Tigers are an exception to the “rule”. They will seek out water to swim in, especially on a hot day. And those webbed paws help move them through the water, they are no Michael Phelps but they get by.
Tigers have many ways they communicate, and not all with vocalization. They might put their claws out or arch their back if they are feeling threatened. They might spray or leave claw marks to claim territory. Or show their teeth and flatten their ears to express power. But what vocal sounds do they make? Of course, there is the classic roar, bellows, and squeaks. And unlike your average house cat, they can’t purr. But one rather adorable sound they make is to say hello, the chuff:
You might have guessed that tigers are carnivores, and you would be correct. They will eat almost any animal big or small; such as fish, monkeys, wild boar, tapirs, deer, and so on. They typically hunt at night, using their camouflage striped fur and short quick speed to ambush their prey. When needed they can run up to 40 miles per hour, but only in short bursts. So even if you are Usain Bolt running at a top speed of 27.33 miles per hour, you know you cannot outrun a tiger. And they can climb. Didn’t I mention how much of a powerhouse they are?
“The island of Sumatra is the only place where tigers, rhinos, orangutans, and elephants live together in the wild. The presence of the Sunda tiger is an important indicator of a forest’s health and biodiversity. Protecting tigers and their habitat means many other species benefit—including people.” – WWF
So why should we care for tigers? Beyond their beauty, their might, and their awesomeness. They are a key factor to harmony in their environment. They are the top predator and with that comes great responsibility. To the tiger and to us.
There are conservation efforts that are helping this incredible species. FFI, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Panthera, TRAFFIC, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and World Wildlife Fund (WWF), have united under a shared vision: Securing a Viable Future for the Tiger.
I know, I know, it is an adorable tiger cub. It’s okay, you can cry a little if you need to.
National Geographic – Sumatran Tiger >
World WildLife – Sunda Tiger >
You are the best! Thank you so much for sharing! ❤️