http://www.gifs-paradise.com/animated_gifs/tigers/animated-gifs-tigers-049.gif

SizeThis tiger may weigh more than 550 pounds and measures nearly nine feet from head to the tip of the tail.

ColorThe upper part of the animal ranges from reddish orange to ochre, and the under parts are whitish. The body has a series of black striations of black to dark grey colour.

Major habitat typeDry and wet deciduous forests, grassland and sal forests and temperate forests, mangrove forests

Biogeographic realmIndo-Malayan

Range StatesBangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal

Tigers are the largest of the cats, and present a unique and specialized set of characteristics. Their stripes camouflage them in the jungle, making them deadly stalkers and hunters. These tigers are solitary, except for when they come together to breed, and when females have cubs. Young tigers live with their mothers for two to three years and depend on them for food at that time.

Tigers eat a variety of prey ranging in size from termites to elephant calves. However, an integral component of their diet are large-bodied prey weighing about 20 kg (45 lb) or larger such as moose, deer species, pigs, cows, horses, buffalos and goats. Occasionally they may consume tapirs, elephant and rhinoceros calves, bear species, leopards and Asiatic wild dogs.

Tigers mainly rely on their sense of sight and hearing rather than on smell when hunting prey. They cautiously stalk their prey from the rear in attempt to get as close as possible to their unsuspecting prey. Then they attempt to take down their prey with a powerful bite to the neck and/ or throat.

2. Tigers may consume up to 40 kg (88 pounds) of meat at one time. 3. It is estimated that every tiger consumes about 50 deer-sized animals each year,

about one per week.

Tigers live in jungles, and are unique among cats in that they enjoy water and commonly go swimming. They need large areas of land to themselves and can be aggressive about marking and protecting their territory.