TIGER
			Phylum: Class: Order: Family: Species: Chordata Mammalia Carnivora Felidae Panthera tigris

The largest of the cat family, the tiger is one of the most magnificent animals in all of creation. Its beautiful coat, grace and power are admired by many. For this reason, humans are tiger's main enemy.

A large male reaches approximately 9 feet in length, (2.7 m), including a tail 1 yard long, (1 m), and stands 1 yard high (1 m) at the shoulder and weighs 400 to 500 lbs. (180 to 230 kg). Females are slightly smaller. The races of tigers differ greatly in size from the small Bali Island tiger, recently declared extinct, to the outsized tiger from Manchuria which may reach a total length of up to 12 feet (3.6 m).

Their background color is a fawnish to a rusty brownish-red. They are overlaid with black or brown-black stripes. These contrasting colors provide splendid camouflage in forests and tall grasses. The underfur of the tiger is white. Tigers that inhabit cold Siberia and Manchuria have thick, shaggy coats. The hair around the face is longer than on the rest of the body, and adult males have a distinct "ruff" they make.

These big cats live in south, southeast, and east Asia, with perhaps a few surviving in Iran, and in India, there have been a few rare cases of white tigers found. They prefer thick cover, but have adapted to life in rocky mountainous regions. They inhabit the reeds of the Caspian and islands such as Java.

Tigers do not like strong amounts of heat. At the hottest time of the day they rest in long grass, caves or shallow water. They are great swimmers, but unlike most cats are poor climbers. Tigers depend mainly on their acute hearing to help them stalk their prey. When they attack or are disturbed, they give a full-throated roar. Tigers will prey on deer, antelope, wild pig, and smaller animals like porcupines and monkeys. It takes fish and turtles in times of flood. Sometimes it may attack larger animals such as wild bull buffaloes. In times of injury, the tiger seeks easy prey which includes humans.

Male and female tigers meet only to mate. Each litter has 3 to 4 cubs, and sometimes up to 6 cubs. At 7 months old, they can kill for themselves, but they stay with their mothers until they are approximately 2 years old, during which time, she teaches them to hunt. They're fully grown at age 3.

Hunting and deforestation have drastically reduced the tigers numbers.