Young tigers receive the care of their mothers, like other mammals.
Tigers (Panthera tigris) are members of the family Felidae, which also includes lions, domestic cats and leopards. Although all tigers are the same species, there are six subspecies of living tigers, all native from Asia. Like adults from distinct subspecies, baby tigers from different subspecies are not the same. However, differences among subspecies are sometimes subtle in young and adult animals alike. Sometimes, a white cub is born as a result of a genetic anomaly or excessive inbreeding. This can happen in any subspecies of tigers, but does not constitute a separate subspecies. Tigers are highly endangered animals due to poaching and habitat loss.
Amur Tiger
The Amur or Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) is native to eastern Russia, northeastern China and northern North Korea. It was almost extinct in the 1940s, but has recovered since then. This is the largest subspecies of tiger, a difference that is also observed in the size of cubs, when compared to other tiger subspecies. The Amur tiger has fewer stripes and a thicker coat, present also in cubs. A 6-month-old Amur tiger is often the size of an adult leopard.
Indochinese and Malayan Tigers
The Indochinese tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti) lives in the forests of Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and China. This subspecies is often smaller and darker in comparison to the Siberian and Bengali tigers. Cubs are also smaller and darker when compared to other sub subspecies. Less than 2,000 animals are found in the wild. The Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni) is endemic to the southern Malay Peninsula, with less than 800 individuals in the wild. Cubs and adult animals are similar to the Indochinese tiger, but smaller in size.
Bengal and South China Tigers
The bengal or Indian tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is native to Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, China, Nepal and Myanmar. This is the second largest subspecies of tiger. Newborns weigh 2 lbs. on average. Like other subspecies, cubs start to feed on meat two months after birth. Tigers have two dentitions; the permanent dentition replaces the milk teeth when the cubs are about 10 months old. The South China tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis) is native to eastern and southern China. It is likely to be extinct in the wild, with only 47 adults living in zoos.
Sumatran Tiger
The Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is endemic to Sumatra, an island part of Indonesia. This is the smallest of all tiger subspecies, which is an adaptation to the dense forests of Sumatra. The Sumatran tiger has longer whiskers in comparison to other subspecies. Cubs are dependent on their mother for food and protection for 1-1/2 years. Less than 500 adults are found in the wild.
Tags: Panthera tigris, tiger Panthera, tiger Panthera tigris, other subspecies, adult animals, Amur tiger