Siberian Tiger

Scientific Classification

KINGDOM: Animalia

PHYLUM: Chordata

CLASS: Mammalia

ORDER: Carnivora

FAMILY: Felidae

GENUS: Panthera

SPECIES: P. tigris

Conservation Status

Siberian tiger laying down looking at camera

These big cats are considered to be the largest of all tigers. The Siberian tiger’s weight has changed throughout the years, but the most current measurement is 300- 600 pounds for males with females being roughly half these numbers. This tiger’s body averages six feet long not including the tail. Amazingly, a male Siberian tiger’s tail can reach lengths of 39 inches, and 36 inches for females!

The Siberian tiger has a rusty-reddish or rusty-yellowish coat color with narrow stripes. The density of the coat depends on the season as their summer coat is coarse and their winter coat is thick, long, and soft. In addition to the change in color, Siberian tigers will get much longer hair especially around their face almost covering their ears.

The Siberian tiger used to be found in Korea, Mongolia, China, and Russia, but is now found exclusively in the Russian Far East mountains.

Like most big cats, Siberian tigers will stalk and ambush their prey. Their diet consists of different deer species, goral, moose, and small prey such as rabbits, pikas, and salmon. Scientists have discovered that Siberian tigers will consume meat more frequently during winter, instead hunting roughly every five days as opposed to seven.

Siberian tigers can mate year-long. Males and females will mate with different tigers over the course of a week. Once pregnant, the female will create a sheltered den and give birth to 2-6 cubs after about three months. Even though the cubs are born blind and defenseless, they are left alone while their mother hunts. Female cubs will stay with the mothers longer and find territories close to home, while males will venture alone farther away.