There are nine different types of tigers (three of which are extinct). Each subspecies is adapted to specific habitats and each has its own set of behavioral patterns and dietary preferences.

• Bengal Tiger
• Indochinese Tiger
• Malayan Tiger
• Siberian Tiger
• South China Tiger
• Sumatran Tiger
• Caspian Tiger (Extinct)
• Bali Tiger (Extinct)
• Javan Tiger (Extinct)

The Evolution of Tigers

Tigers belong to the genus Panthera within the family Felidae. This lineage of carnivores evolved over approximately 2 million years. Early tiger ancestors were solitary hunters inhabiting dense forests and grasslands. Throughout their evolution, tigers have developed into the largest and most powerful members of the cat family.

Tigers expanded their range from their origins in Asia to various habitats, including tropical rainforests, temperate forests, and even snowy landscapes. They developed powerful limbs for stalking and ambushing prey, retractable claws for gripping and tearing, and enhanced night vision for nocturnal hunting. These advancements have allowed tigers to become apex predators.

Tiger stripes are a highly effective form of camouflage. The bold, vertical stripes disrupt the tiger’s outline, breaking up its silhouette amidst the light and shadow of forests and grasses. This disruptive coloration allows tigers to blend into their surroundings, making it difficult for both prey and rival predators to detect their presence. Additionally, the stripes mimic the natural patterns of their habitats, such as the streaks of sunlight filtering through foliage or the vertical lines of tree trunks.

9 Types of Tigers

Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)

The Bengal tiger is the most numerous tiger subspecies, primarily found in India, with smaller populations in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. These cats typically measure 8 to 10 feet (2.5 to 3 meters) in length and weigh between 400 to 570 pounds (180 to 260 kilograms). Bengal tigers inhabit a variety of environments, including mangroves, grasslands, and dense forests. Their diet consists mainly of large ungulates such as deer and wild boar. Bengal tigers are powerful swimmers and great climbers, making them highly versatile predators.

Here are 5 subspecies of the Bengal tiger:

• Panthera tigris tigris tigris (Indian Bengal tiger)
• Panthera tigris tigris jacksoni (Malayan tiger, sometimes considered separate)
• Panthera tigris tigris venator (Chinese Bengal tiger)
• Panthera tigris tigris mangshanensis (Mangshan tiger, possibly a separate species)
• Panthera tigris tigris balica (Bali tiger, extinct)

Indochinese Tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti)

The Indochinese tiger is found in Southeast Asia, including countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. These tigers typically measure 8 to 9 feet (2.4 to 2.7 meters) in length and weigh between 300 to 500 pounds (136 to 227 kilograms). Indochinese tigers prefer dense tropical forests and mountainous regions. They rely on stealth to hunt prey like sambar deer and wild boar. Their coat is generally lighter with fewer stripes compared to Bengal tigers.

Here are 3 subspecies of the Indochinese tiger:

• Panthera tigris corbetti corbetti (Myanmar Indochinese tiger)
• Panthera tigris corbetti sumatrae (Sumatra tiger, extinct)
• Panthera tigris corbetti rafflesii (Thai Indochinese tiger)

Malayan Tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni)

The Malayan tiger is native to the Malay Peninsula in Malaysia. These tigers are slightly smaller, measuring 7 to 8 feet (2.1 to 2.4 meters) in length and weighing between 220 to 310 pounds (100 to 140 kilograms). Malayan tigers inhabit tropical rainforests. They often hunt in the canopy. Their diet primarily includes sambar deer, wild boar, and other medium-sized ungulates. Malayan Tigers are endangered due to habitat loss and poaching.

Here are 2 subspecies of the Malayan tiger:

• Panthera tigris jacksoni jacksoni (Malayan mainland tiger)
• Panthera tigris jacksoni sondaica (Sumatran Malayan tiger, extinct)

Siberian Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica)

The Siberian tiger, also known as the Amur tiger, is the largest tiger subspecies, found primarily in the Russian Far East, with small populations in China and North Korea. These tigers can grow up to 10 feet (3 meters) in length and weigh between 400 to 700 pounds (180 to 318 kilograms). Adapted to cold climates, Siberian tigers have thick fur and a layer of fat to insulate against harsh winters. They inhabit boreal forests and mountainous regions and prey on ungulates such as deer and wild boar.

Here are 2 subspecies of the Siberian tiger:

• Panthera tigris altaica altaica (Russian Siberian tiger)
• Panthera tigris altaica amoyensis (East Chinese Siberian tiger, critically endangered)

South China Tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis)

The South China tiger is one of the most critically endangered tiger subspecies, possibly extinct in the wild. Historically found in the mountainous regions of southern China, these tigers are similar in size to the Indochinese tigers, measuring 7 to 8 feet (2.1 to 2.4 meters) in length and weighing between 220 to 310 pounds (100 to 140 kilograms). They prefer dense subtropical forests and are solitary hunters, primarily feeding on deer and wild boar. Due to extensive habitat loss and poaching, the South China tiger population has dwindled drastically, with only a few individuals surviving in captivity.

Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae)

The Sumatran tiger is the smallest tiger subspecies, endemic to the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. These tigers measure 6 to 7 feet (1.8 to 2.1 meters) in length and weigh between 220 to 310 pounds (100 to 140 kilograms). Sumatran tigers inhabit dense tropical rainforests. Their diet includes sambar deer, wild boar, and primates. Due to deforestation and poaching, the Sumatran tiger population is critically endangered, with intense conservation efforts underway to prevent their extinction.

Here are 2 subspecies of the Sumatran tiger:

• Panthera tigris sumatrae sumatrae (Mainland Sumatran tiger)
• Panthera tigris sumatrae javanica (Javan Sumatran tiger, extinct)

Caspian Tiger (Panthera tigris virgata) [Extinct]

The Caspian tiger was once found in the regions surrounding the Caspian Sea, including parts of Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. These tigers measured up to 9 feet (2.7 meters) in length and weighed between 400 to 500 pounds (180 to 227 kilograms). Adapted to temperate and semi-arid climates, Caspian tigers inhabited forests, grasslands, and riverine areas. Their diet consisted mainly of wild boar, deer, and smaller mammals. The Caspian tiger was declared extinct in the 1970s due to extensive hunting and habitat destruction.

Bali Tiger (Panthera tigris balica) [Extinct]

The Bali tiger was a subspecies endemic to the Indonesian island of Bali. These tigers were smaller, measuring around 6 feet (1.8 meters) in length and weighing approximately 220 pounds (100 kilograms). Bali tigers inhabited dense forests and mountainous regions and preyed on wild boar and deer. Their population faced severe declines in the early 20th century due to habitat loss, hunting, and human encroachment. The Bali tiger was declared extinct in the 1940s, marking the first tiger subspecies to disappear in modern times.

Javan Tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica) [Extinct]

The Javan tiger was native to the Indonesian island of Java, with its last confirmed sighting in the 1970s. These tigers were similar in size to the Sumatran tigers, measuring 6 to 7 feet (1.8 to 2.1 meters) in length and weighing between 220 to 310 pounds (100 to 140 kilograms). Javan tigers inhabited tropical forests, where they hunted deer, wild boar, and small mammals. They went extinct in the 1970s, with the last confirmed sighting occurring in 1976. This extinction was primarily driven by severe habitat loss due to deforestation, intensive hunting for their valuable pelts, and declining prey populations.

Prehistoric Tigers

Saber-Toothed Tiger

One of the most notable species of tigers that existed during the Pleistocene epoch is the Smilodon fatalis, commonly known as the saber-toothed tiger. These impressive cats measured around 4.5 to 6 feet (1.4 to 1.8 meters) in body length, excluding their tail. They stood about 2 to 3.5 feet (0.6 to 1.1 meters) at the shoulder, weighing between 400 to 600 pounds (180 to 270 kilograms), making them comparable to the heaviest modern tigers. Saber-toothed tigers are known for their elongated canine teeth that could reach up to 7 inches (18 centimeters). They were used for delivering precise bites to their prey. These tigers inhabited regions across North and South America, thriving in diverse environments from dense forests to open grasslands, where they hunted large herbivores such as bison and mammoths.

Longdan Tiger

Another fascinating prehistoric tiger is the Panthera zdanskyi, also known as the Longdan tiger, which existed during the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs. This species was one of the largest tiger subspecies to have ever existed—larger than the modern Siberian tiger. They measured up to 10 feet (3 meters) in length and weighed between 600 to 1,200 pounds (272 to 544 kilograms). Panthera zdanskyi had thicker fur and a more substantial body mass, allowing it to withstand the harsh, icy environments of prehistoric Alaska. Fossil evidence suggests that these tigers were capable of hunting a variety of prey, from marine mammals to terrestrial ungulates.

Are There Any Tigers in Africa?

Today, Africa lacks a native tiger population. Tigers are exclusively native to Asia, where they have evolved to adapt to a variety of habitats across the continent. Historically, there is no evidence to suggest that tigers ever roamed the African continent. The ecosystems of Africa are instead dominated by other large predators such as lions, leopards, and cheetahs, which occupy the ecological niches that tigers might have otherwise filled.