|Bengal tiger in Bannerghatta National Park|
|Subspecies:||Panthera tigris tigris|
|Panthera tigris tigris
The Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is a tiger subspecies native to the Indian subcontinent. In 2010 it became endangered by IUCN. There are less than 2,500 of these tigers. There are about 1,520–1,909 in India, 440 in Bangladesh, 124–229 in Nepal and 67–81 in Bhutan.
Appearance[change | change source]
The Bengal tiger's coat is yellow to light orange. Its stripes go from dark brown to black. The belly and the inside parts of the limbs are white. The tail is orange with black rings.
They are the second largest tiger, after the Siberian tiger also known as the Amur Tiger. Male Bengal tigers have a total length, including the tail, from 270 to 310 cm (110 to 120 in). Females go from 240 to 265 cm (94 to 104 in). The average weight of males is 204.5 kg (451 lb). Females are 139.7 kg (308 lb).
They live in Bangladesh, a country which is filled with green grass, where it is the National animal. They also live in Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar and Nepal. Bengal Tigers are predator animals and usually hunt their prey alone. They bite their prey on their throat or neck, using their powerful jaws.When two male tigers meet they do not start fighting right away. They rather snarl and roar. Then they test each other's strength by standing on their back legs and wrestling until one gives up and runs away.
References[change | change source]
- Chundawat, R. S., Khan, J. A., Mallon, D. P. (2010). "Panthera tigris tigris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/136899.
- Jhala, Y.V., Qureshi, Q., Sinha, P.R. (2011). Status of tigers, co-predators and prey in India. National Tiger Conservation Authority, Govt of India and the Wildlife Institute of India, New Delhi and Dehra Dun, India.
- Global Tiger Initiative. (2011). Global Tiger Recovery Program 2010–2022. Global Tiger Initiative Secretariat, Washington.
- The Economic Times (2010). Nepal has 155 adult tigers, 5% of world population. Times Internet Limited
- Sangay, T., Wangchuk, T. (2005). Tiger Action Plan for Bhutan 2006-2015. Nature Conservation Division, Department of Forests, Ministry of Agriculture, Royal Government of Bhutan and WWF Bhutan Programme, Thimphu.
- Mazák, V. (1981) Panthera tigris. Mammalian Species No. 152: 1–8.
- Slaght, J. C., D. G. Miquelle, I. G. Nikolaev, J. M. Goodrich, E. N. Smirnov, K. Traylor-Holzer, S. Christie, T. Arjanova, J. L. D. Smith, Karanth, K. U. (2005) Chapter 6. Who‘s king of the beasts? Historical and recent body weights of wild and captive Amur tigers, with comparisons to other subspecies. Pages 25–35 in: Miquelle, D.G., Smirnov, E.N., Goodrich, J.M. (Eds.) Tigers in Sikhote-Alin Zapovednik: Ecology and Conservation. PSP, Vladivostok, Russia (in Russian)
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