Bengal Tiger

Panthera tigris tigris

Order: Carnivora

Family:Felidae

Genus:Panthera

Distribution: Mainly in India, Bangladesh and Nepal

Endangered category: Endangered Animals (EN), CITES

Appendix I

Also known as Indian Tiger, it’s the nominate subspecies and type species of tiger. The body is relatively large, second only to manchurian tiger. It is 140 to 290 cm long. The tail is 70 to 110 cm long and it weighs 140 to 270 kg. The Bengal tiger is big, tall and strong. It has a big, round head and a short, bull neck, with mane on face. The Bengal tiger has claybank to light yellow fur, with dark brown to black stripes over the body. It has brown and orange rings on the tail. White and golden varieties are rare to see. The Bengal tiger originates in subcontinent of India. They often live in tropical damp evergreen woodlands, tropical dry forests, tropical and subtropical damp deciduous forests and mangrove forests. They have well-developed muscles in forelimbs, long and sharp retractable claws, powerful jaw bite force and a short, bull neck as well as broad and powerful shoulders, which are appropriate for capturing and subduing large preys. They can eat 18 to 40 kg meat for a meal. They can swim, but they can’t climb trees. They have well developed visual, auditory and olfactory sense.