.webp)
Among these nine types of tigers, six are endangered, and the remaining ones are extinct.
There are thousands of tigers roaming in the wild out there. But interestingly, not all of them are the same. Of course, the basic characteristics remain constant; such as their signature stripes, dominating attitude, and massive physical strength among others. However, there are nine different types (subspecies) of tigers globally based on several factors.
It's International Tiger Day today which aims to raise awareness about tiger conservation. On this occasion, let's learn about the different types of those big cats in this article.
A population of the Panthera tigris tigris subspecies, the Bengal Tigers are the most numerous of the tigers and are the most popular among humans. Native to the Indian subcontinent, these tigers have been there for about 12,000 to 16,500 years. They look absolutely magnificent with their yellow to light orange coat, dark brown to black stripes, and white limbs.
The largest of the species, the Siberian Tigers are currently native to the Russian Far East, Northeast China, and North Korea. Also known as Amur tigers, these tigers are reddish-rusty or rusty-yellow in color, with narrow black transverse stripes. Their prey species are mainly ungulates such as Manchurian wapiti, Siberian musk deer, moose, and long-tailed goral among others.
According to recent data, there are around 600 Siberian tigers remaining in the wild.
The Indochinese Tigers are mostly located in Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar. What's so special about these subspecies is they are typically spotted in mountainous regions and tropical forests. They are smaller than both Bengal and Siberian tigers and have distinct strip patterns. Their prey species include Sambar deer, gaur, banteng, muntjac, and wild boar among others.
It is believed that the Sumatran Tigers have been isolated from the other subspecies for thousands of years. Native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra, these tigers are among the smallest on the planet. They are darker in fur color and have broader stripes.
Their prey species include great argus, pig-tailed macaque, Malayan porcupine, Malayan tapir, banded pig, and lesser mouse-deer among others.
The South China Tigers, as the name suggests, are native to the southern region of China. According to Max Hilzheimer, the late German zoologist, these are smaller (bigger than the Sumatran Tigers) in size but similar in height to the Bengal tigers. They hunt large ungulates including wild boar, hog deer, muntjac, and gray langur.
The South China Tigers are listed as Critically Endangered on China's Red List of Vertebrates. However, they are possibly extinct as no wild individual has been spotted since the late 1980s.
The Malayan Tigers are also classified as critically endangered and inhabit the southern and central parts of the Malay Peninsula. These are similar to the Indochinese Tigers; however, they prefer to stay along rivers and in agricultural areas. And they prey on sambar deer, barking deer, wild boar, Indian hog deer, Bornean bearded pig, and mainland serow among others.
Notably, they are the national animal of Malaysia.
Besides these endangered subspecies of tigers, the list also includes the Javan Tigers, Bali Tigers, and Caspian Tigers. Unfortunately, these are now extinct!
 of tigers globally based on several factors. .webp)
