The tiger (Panthera tigris) is the largest of all the wild cat species, yet the tiger is also the most endangered and some subspecies have already gone extinct.
Tiger (Panthera Tigris)
Tiger (Panthera Tigris)
Image by Bjørn Christian Tørrissen (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Wikimedia

Unique Facts about Tigers

~ Largest of the wild cat species ~

~ Unique coat pattern of stripes only ~

~ All tiger subspecies are Endangered or Critically Endangered ~

Bengal Tiger Ranthambhor National Park
Bengal Tiger Ranthambhor National Park
© Jagdeep Rajput / www.ardea.com

View trips to India including Ranthambhore National Park or Bandhavgarch National Park to look for tigers.

Tiger (Panthera tigris) Classification

Tigers belong to the big cat genus Panthera and the full taxonomy, scientific classification or higher classification of the tiger species (Panthera tigris) is as follows:

Kingdom: Animalia (animals)

Phylum: Chordata (vertebrates)

Class: Mammalia (mammals)

Order: Carnivora (carnivores)

Suborder: Feliformia (cat-like)

Family: Felidae (cats)

Subfamily: Pantherinae (big cats)

Genus: Panthera (big cats)

Species: Panthera tigris (tiger)

Tiger (Panthera tigris) Lower Classifications (subspecies)

There are six extant (still in existence) subspecies of tiger and three subspecies that have already gone extinct:

Extinct (EX)

  • Bali Tiger Panthera tigris balica
  • Javan Tiger Panthera tigris sondaica
  • Caspian Tiger Panthera tigris virgata

Critically Endangered (CR)

  • South China Tiger Panthera tigris amoyensis
  • Malayan Tiger Panthera tigris jacksoni
  • Sumatran Tiger Panthera tigris sumatrae

Endangered (EN)

  • Amur Tiger Panthera tigris altaica
  • Indochinese Tiger Panthera tigris corbetti
  • Bengal Tiger Panthera tigris tigris

Reference: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2016-3. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Panthera tigris. 7 Feb 2017.

Tigers of the World, Second Edition: The Science, Politics and Conservation of Panthera tigris
Tigers of the World 2010 Editors Tilson and Nyhus (academic - eTextbook available)
 

Tiger Conservation

The following global organizations are all fighting to conserve our iconic tigers amidst ever growing human populations and illicit poaching:

 

Tiger Facts and Information

The following websites have well researched and authoritative information on tigers:

Tiger Art Prints by Barbara Keith (available with or without frames)

Images copyright Barbara Keith

Tiger Art Print
Tiger Art Print - Opulent by Barbara Keith
Tiger Wall Art by Barbara Keith
Tiger Wall Art - Silent Partners by Barbara Keith
Tiger Poster by Barbara Keith
Tiger Poster - Forceful by Barbara Keith