| MALAYAN TIGER |
Panthera tigris jacksoni |
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Range:
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Malayan Peninsula in Thailand and Malaysia. |
The Malayan subspecies of tiger has only been recognized since 2004, making it the newest species of tiger to be identified. They are the smallest in size of all the species of tigers with an average weight of 260 pounds for adult males and 220 pounds for females.
Tigers are a critically endangered species with fewer than 3,200 estimated to remain in the wild. Of that number, the Malayan subspecies represents just 600-800 in wild populations in Thailand and Malaysia.
It is important for females to be familiar with their territories, especially while raising offspring. A female with two young must successfully hunt every five to six days in order to survive and rear the offspring. A female without young needs to successfully hunt only every eight days.
The tiger has an elastic, cartilaginous band in the throat that enables it to roar. The tiger can only purr while exhaling. It is capable of leaping forward 16 to 20 feet, jumping downward 33 feet and jumping up and over 6 ft. obstacles. The tiger is an excellent swimmer and is one of the few large cats that likes to spend time in the water.
Malayan Tiger Habitat Sponsored by:
Tiger photo by Julie Larsen Maher/WCS
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| Habitat: |
Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests. |
| Diet: |
Small and large vertebrate prey. |
| Status: |
Critically Endangered (IUCN) - due to habitat loss and hunting. |
| Approximate Dimensions of Adult: |
Weight: Average 260. lbs male, and 220 lbs. female
Length:7.5 to 9.5 feet (head to tip of tail) |
| Lifespan: |
Up to 20 years in captivity. |
| Gestation Period: |
Approximately 100 days. |
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