Astonishing Bengal Tiger Facts

Astonishing Bengal tiger facts reveal to us the undiscovered world of these intriguing predators and why they are considered one of the most interesting mammal species all over the world. There are a total of 36 different cat species in the world, and tigers are the largest of the lot. Among numerous species of tigers, Bengal Tigers are the sharpest, especially in their hearing ability, which is around five times greater and better than that of normal human beings. Their night vision is six times stronger and more peculiar than that of human beings as well. Bengal Tigers are characterized by flashes on the back of their ears, which represent the white spots on their bodies. This is a form of aggression related to the Bengal Tigers. Interestingly, the ears swivel and flatten when there is a confrontational situation, one that requires animosity to be shown in an all-out way. The mighty roar of a Bengal tiger can be heard up to 2 miles away, which signifies its authority and control over the jungle. When on the hunt, Bengal Tigers make sure to catch prey large enough to last for several meals. It is known that the farther north these Bengal Tigers reside, the larger they are in terms of size. Bengal Tigers are among the most feared of all animal species and are synonymous with wrath, destruction, and control attained through power, authority, and a supreme command.

Characteristics

The Bengal tiger’s coat is yellow as well as light orange in color. A large portion of their body is covered in stripes that range from dark brown to black shades of color, while their belly as well as the interior parts have an unclear white color. The tail is usually orange and has black rings on it. It is known that the male Bengal Tigers have an average length of 300 cm, including the tail. The females, on the other hand, usually have a length measuring up to 270 cm. The weights of male Bengal Tigers are between 180 and 250 kg, while the females weigh anywhere from 100 to 160 kg. The white tiger is recognized as a recessive mutant of Bengal Tigers and is usually found within the Indian regions of Bihar, Assam, and Bengal. Bengal Tigers are largely found in the dense forests of India.

Scientific Classification of Bengal Tigers

The scientific name for Bengal Tigers is Pantheratigristigris. To be precise, they belong to the Animalia, while the Phylum is Chordata. Their classification is Mammalia, ordered as Carnivora, family-wise classified as Felidae, while their subfamily is Pantherinae, and genus is Panthera. The subspecies, as explained earlier, is Pantheratigristigris.

Scientific Details of Bengal Tigers

The normal lifespan of a Bengal Tiger is about 15 years, while they can live up to 20 or more years in captivity. Their diet is usually carnivore since they have large canine teeth characterized as carnivorous. Their diet usually comprises wild deer and wild cattle, which are also known as gaur, some young elephant species, buffalo, monkeys, frogs, birds, and porcupines. As far as predators and threats are concerned, human beings are known to be the biggest threat to Bengal Tigers as they hunt these tigers for the fun of it and destroy their natural habitat.

Habitat

The most preferred habitats of the Bengal Tigers are mostly rainforests as well as dense grasslands. This results in their footprint over vast amounts of land, yet much away from the human eye. A number of Bengal Tigers live within India, yet a small number of these tigers are also found in Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar (Burma).

Genetic Basis

Bengal Tigers are distinctively recognized by three different mitochondrial nucleotide sites and 12 unique microsatellite alleles. They are known to have arrived in India some 12,000 years ago and have been living there since then. This is in direct understanding with the genetic variations that have been estimated over a period of history. This is evident from the lack of tiger fossils from the Indian region prior to the late Pleistocene period, as well as the absence of tigers from Sri Lanka. The Bengal Tiger facts therefore reveal how well Bengal Tigers have been studied over a period of time and how much more information they can provide to readers and researchers about the genetic mutants of various species of tigers.