The Nine Sub-Species of Tigers

From Siberian Forests to Sumatran Jungles the Tiger is in Danger

Feb 11, 2009 Jonathan Taylor

There are now nine known subspecies of tigers. Three are extinct whilst all the other varieties are endangered in their respective habitats.

Both the number and distribution of all the tiger species has substantially diminished over the last hundred years. Here then is an update of the current situation.

Bengal Tiger Panthera Tigris

Around 1900 there was a healthy thriving population of approximately one hundred thousand Bengal tigers. They were the most numerous subspecies and their number was reduced to about two thousand at the close of the Century. This was mainly due to hunting expeditions and the perception of the tiger as a monster to be eradicated or subdued. Estimates of tiger populations are sometimes inaccurate as a ball park figure can be provided instead of accurately totalling numbers in respective reserves.

Siberian Tiger Panthera Tigris Altica

The Siberian or Amur tiger is the largest subspecies. It can be identified more easily than the other types not simply because of its mammoth size, the largest recorded weight is 1025 pounds though anything over 300kg or 650 pounds is big, but because of its shaggy, thick coat that protects it from the extreme cold. There are probably less than five hundred remaining in the wild.

Indochinese Tiger Panthera Tigris Corbetti

This tiger is aptly named relating to its distribution on the Indian Sub Continent and its Latin title. The range of the Indo Chinese tiger though, has shrunk as there is competition for land, both for agricultural purposes and an increase in population that has led to urbanisation. Jim Corbett was a legendary hunter, turned admirer of the tiger. He was undoubtedly the most renowned expert on their instincts and behaviour. He was commissioned by the Indian government to kill man-eating tigers, though in his later years he preferred shooting with his camera.

The Sumatran Tiger Panthera Tigris Sumutrae

Averaging around 90 kg in the wild, the Sumatran tiger is the smallest on the Indian Sub-Continent. In warmer climates animals and indeed tigers usually decrease in size as their smaller mass enables them to dissipate heat more effectively. This seems to be the case also with the Javan and Indochinese tigers. Dublin zoo has Sumatran and Siberian tigers in their collection enabling an interesting comparison between the two.

The South China Tiger Panthera Tigris Amoyensis

Formerly referred to as the Chinese tiger, the habitat and numbers of this variety have followed suit with the other species. Unfortunately all manner of tiger organs are sold on the black market, for apparent health benefits. Traditional beliefs advocate eating tiger parts for strength or courage and are even used as aphrodisiacs. Subsequently this specimen is probably the most likely to be the next extinct sub-species of tiger.

The Malayan Tiger Panthera Tigris Jacksoni

This has recently been identified as a new subspecies distinct from the Indo Chinese tiger or what was often referred to as the Indo-Malayan tiger. These can still be found in Malaysia and there are currently about five hundred, surviving in the wild.

Tiger Obituary

Sadly almost equal in size to the Bengaltiger, the Caspian tigerpanthera tigris virgata passed away in the early 1970’s. At about the same time the Balinese tigerpanthera tigris bali rested peacefully in its native Island Bali. The Javan tigerpanthera tigris sondaicus died in 1975 in Java.

Alderton, D. Wild cats of the World Blandford London 1998

Sankhala, K. Tiger! The Story of the Indian Tiger Collins London 1978

The copyright of the article The Nine Sub-Species of Tigers in Mammals is owned by Jonathan Taylor. Permission to republish The Nine Sub-Species of Tigers in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Bengal Tiger