Siberian Tiger

• The Siberian tiger is the largest cat on Earth, reaching lengths of nearly 10 feet and weights up to 700 pounds.

Population and Habitat

• Fewer than 500 Siberian tigers remain in the wild.
• Approximately 400 Siberian tigers inhabit Russia's birch forests.
• Remaining Siberian tigers are dispersed throughout Eastern China and North Korea.
• Siberian tigers live in colder habitats, where temperatures can drop to -40°F.

Adaptations

• Large paws prevent Siberian tigers from sinking in snow.
• Widely spaced stripes camouflage the tiger in warmer months.
• Pale orange fur helps the tiger blend into the winter forest.
• A white stomach and chest provide camouflage at night and help keep the tiger warm.
• Fur is longer and thicker than that of tigers in warmer climates.

Hunting

• Coat adaptations allow the tiger to stalk prey undetected.
• They move silently from the side or rear to ambush prey.
• Strong hind legs enable the tiger to leap up to 20 feet onto prey.
• Siberian tigers hunt both day and night, being more alert at night.
• A tapetum lucidum, a reflecting layer behind the retina, enhances night vision, making it six times better than humans vision.
• 3-inch canine teeth sever major arteries and shear the spinal cord.
• Powerful jaws crush the windpipe.
• Only one in ten hunts are successful.
• Tigers can consume over 60 pounds of flesh in one sitting after a successful hunt.
• Papillae, small hooks on the tongue, help tigers to cut and rip flesh from bone.

Threats

• Logging and human settlement destroy millions of acres of the tiger's forest habitat annually.
• Poachers kill approximately 85% of the remaining tiger population.
• Authorities confiscate and destroy poached goods to prevent their sale on the black market.
• Human intrusion increases the risk of encounters with these predators.