Tigers Wallpaper, #11050

The tiger (Panthera tigris) is a member of the Felidae family; the largest and the most powerful of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera. Native to much of eastern and southern Asia, the tiger is an apex predator and an obligate carnivore. Reaching up to 4 metres (13 ft) in total length and weighing up to 300 kilograms (660 pounds), the larger tiger subspecies are comparable in size to the biggest extinct felids. Aside from their great bulk and power, their most recognizable feature is the pattern of dark vertical stripes that overlays near-white to reddish-orange fur, with lighter underparts. The largest subspecies of tiger is the Siberian tiger.A group of Tigers is rare (see below), but when seen together is termed a 'streak' or an 'ambush'.In the historical past Tigers were widespread in Asia, from the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea, to Siberia and Indonesia. During the 19th century the striped cats completely vanished from western Asia, and became restricted to isolated pockets in the remaining parts of their range. Today, this fragmented relic range extends from India in the west to China and Southeast Asia in the east. The northern limit is close to the Amur River in south eastern Siberia. The only large island inhabited by Tigers today is Sumatra. Tigers vanished from Java during the second half of the 19th century, and in Borneo are known only from fossil remains.Male Malayan Tigers weigh an average of 120 kg with an average length of 2.35 m, whereas female Malayan Tigers weigh an average of 100 kg with an average length of 2 m. Thus, Malayan Tigers are the smallest of the mainland tiger subspecies, and the second smallest living tiger subspecies. Malayan Tigers look very similar to Indochinese Tigers, but are smaller in stature.