Tigers and Lions Crossbreeding

Tiger Habitat Tropical and evergreen

forests, woodlands, grasslands, rocky country, swamps, and savannas.

Dense vegetation for camouflage.

Ponds, lakes, and rivers. Asia

Tiger Hunting & Diet Carnivores Hunt alone. Prey are larger and

medium sized animals.

Stalk the prey and kill with strangulation.

Tiger Reproduction Gestation- 4 months An average of 3-4 cubs

are born Out of den- 8 weeks Leave mother- 2-21/2

years of age Females stay in an

area close to mother

Tiger Anatomy

Tiger Anatomy Females weigh between 275-400 pounds Males weigh between 400-600 pounds Have retractable claws up to 5 inches in length Scratching on the bark of trees help sharpen

claws and mark territory Have 19 pairs of chromosomes Average tail length is 36 inches Adult tiger has 30 teeth Average length of the whiskers is 6 inches

Tiger Anatomy Continued Largest subspecies is the Siberian Smallest subspecies is the Sumatran Muscular strength comes from the

shoulders and front legs to bring down prey Lifespan-15 years in wild and 16-18 years

in captivity Largest species of the cat family

Lion Habitat

Africa-south of the Sahara desert.

Savanna and grassland. Largest carnivore in

Africa.

Lion Hunting & Diet Carnivores. Lionesses work as a

group and kill prey with strangulation.

Prey are usually larger mammals.

Drink water when it is available but also uses the stomach contents as moisture from their prey

Lion Reproduction Gestation- 110 days 1 to 4 cubs are born

blind and helpless Weaning – 6 to 7

months 80% of cubs die before

the age of 2.

Lion Anatomy

Lion Anatomy Males have a mane to make them appear

larger and protects the neck during conflicts Digitigrade- “toe walker” their heels do not

touch the ground Females and Males continue to grow until

the age of 6 Born with black spots on the back of ears

and continue to have them through life

Pride A pride of lions consists of related females and offspring

and a small number of adult males. One male is in charge of one pride or a group around 3. The male/s protect the females and their territory. The lions roar can be heard 5-6 miles away to let the

pride know where he is and to let strangers know it is their territory.

Outsider males may challenge the male in charge. All lactating females will allow any cub from the pride to

nurse.

Tigers and Lions Breeding This does not

happen in the wild. The opportunity

presents itself if a lion and tiger are in close confinement with each other.

This is a human error and not natural.

Father Mother Outcome

Lion Tiger Liger

Tiger Lion TiglonLion Liger Li-liger

Lion Tiglon Li-tiglon

Tiger Liger Ti-liger

Tiger Tiglon Ti-tiglon

Ligers Male lion with a

female tiger. Presents with both

stripes and spots. Stands

approximately 12 feet tall!!!

May weigh up to 1,000 pounds.

Ligers Largest hybrid cat in the world. The tiger produces a hormone that sets the

fetal liger on a pattern of growth that does not end throughout its life.

Males are sterile from the hormone (permanent pre-puberty).

Females are often fertile.

Tiger with a Liger in behind.

A liger named Hercules standing 10 feet tall.

3 years old… still growing

Eats 20 pounds of meat a day

Tiglons or Tigons Male tiger with a female

lion. Have stripes and spots. Male offspring may have

mane. Usually smaller than

parents. Not as common as a

Liger.

Health Problems Low lifespan Neurological defects Birth defects Tiglons are more prone to dwarfism Tiglons are often born prematurely due to the lack

of room in the lioness. severe hip-dysplasia, cross-eyes, weakened

immune systems, abnormalities, and birth defects. Always in captivity-so we do not know how they

would perform in the wild.

Emotional & Behavioral Problems Confusion Tigers like to be independent while lions

like to be social. Tigers like to play in the water but lions

rarely do this activity.

This equals depression

Chantel King-Exotics Spring 2008