Sumatran tiger

Sumatran tiger
At the Tierpark Berlin
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Feliformia
Family: Felidae
Subfamily: Pantherinae
Genus: Panthera
Species:
P. tigris
Subspecies:
P. t. sondaica
Trinomial name
Panthera tigris sondaica
(Temminck, 1844)
Distribution map
Synonyms

formerly P. t. sumatrae Pocock, 1929

The Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is the smallest living tiger subspecies.[1] Only the extinct Bali tiger was smaller. It is listed as critically endangered. They are in danger due to hunting and the destruction of their habitat. It is estimated that there are only about 400-700 Sumatran tigers left in the wild.[2]

The Sumatran tiger lives only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It can be found in low and highland areas, mountainous jungles, and peat swamp forests.[3]

Description

A Sumatran tiger in Melbourne Zoo

Like other tiger subspecies, the Sumatran tiger has deep orange fur with black stripes. Every tiger has its own pattern of stripes, with none being the same. The Sumatran tiger has very long back legs, which allow it to jump great distances. Even though they are the smallest of the tiger subspecies, Sumatran tigers are still very large, reaching to the length of 9 feet (2.7 meters), and weighing up to 165-250 pounds (75–114 kg). Sumatran tigers have webbed feet. This allows them to swim easily.[4]

Where they live

The Sumatran tiger is found only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, where the Sumatran tiger can be found from low and highland areas, to mountainous jungles and peat swamp forests.[3]

Feeding

Sumatran tigers ambush their prey, using their long, powerful legs, jaws, and claws to catch and kill their prey. They have extremely good eyesight and hearing, which helps them to find their prey. Sumatran tigers feed mainly on wild boar and deer, and they can eat more than 40 pounds of meat at a time.[4]

Reproduction

Female Sumatran tigers reach maturity at the age of around three to four years. Males turn mature at the age of around four to five years. Females are pregnant for about 95–110 days, and the females give birth in hidden and private areas and raise the cubs alone. They give birth to around 2-3 cubs at a time, but they can sometimes give birth to six cubs. The cubs’ eyes are closed at birth, and they don't open fully until the cub is one or two weeks old. Cubs feed on milk for three to six months and start hunting with their mother at the age of about five or six months. They will stay with their mother until they are fully able to hunt on their own, which doesn't happen until the cubs are at least 18 months to 2 years old. In the wild, Sumatran tigers live an average of 15 years.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Kitchener, A. C.; Breitenmoser-Würsten, C.; Eizirik, E.; Gentry, A.; Werdelin, L.; Wilting, A.; Yamaguchi, N.; Abramov, A. V.; Christiansen, P.; Driscoll, C.; Duckworth, J. W.; Johnson, W.; Luo, S.-J.; Meijaard, E.; O’Donoghue, P.; Sanderson, J.; Seymour, K.; Bruford, M.; Groves, C.; Hoffmann, M.; Nowell, K.; Timmons, Z.; Tobe, S. (2017). "A revised taxonomy of the Felidae: The final report of the Cat Classification Task Force of the IUCN Cat Specialist Group" (PDF). Cat News (Special Issue 11): 66–68.
  2. ↑ Linkie, M.; Wibisono, H. T.; Martyr, D. J.; Sunarto, S. (2008). "Panthera tigris ssp. sumatrae". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN: e.T15966A5334836. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T15966A5334836.en. Retrieved 2019-02-08.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Sumatran Tiger (Panthera Tigris Sumatrae) - Animals - A-Z Animals - Animal Facts, Information, Pictures, Videos, Resources and Links". a-z-animals.com. 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Sumatran Tiger". indonesianfauna.com. 2012. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2012.

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