Submitted by:

Raheela Iftikhar
2008ag2809
Roll No 602

The Bengal tiger , or Royal Bengal tiger

(Panthera tigris tigris) is a tiger subspecies
native to India, Bangladesh, Nepal &
Bhutan, & has been classified as endangered.
Population in India 1706, 200 in Bangladesh ,155 in
Nepal
& 67 81 in Bhutan

Bengal tiger is national animal of

Bangladesh & Panthera tigris is

national

animal of India.

Bengal tigers belong to family Felidae.

The species name tigris is a GREEK word
arrow . It is thought name was derived
from a straight (as an arrow) & fast flowing Tigris
river that flowing between Kurdistan in east central

Turkey and the Persian Gulf. The genus

name Panthera because it is capable of
roaring along with the lion, the leopard &
the jaguar.

Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Sub family
Genus
Species
Sub species

Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Carnivora
Felidae
Pantherinae
panthera
P. tigris
P .t. tigris

Panthera tigris
tigris

Following are four types of Bengal tigers

Royal Standard Bengal (orange & black)
Royal white Bengal (white with black stripes)
Snow white Bengal (all white with ghost
stripes)
Golden tabby Bengal (red to pale orange)

Coat is a yellow to light orange , & the

stripes range from dark brown to black , &
the belly is white , & the tail is white with
black rings.

Mutation of Bengal sub species:

WHITE TIGER
BLACK TIGER
WHITE tiger has dark brown or reddish
brown

stripes on a white back ground & some are

entirely white. BLACK tigers have tawny,
yellow or white stripes on black back
ground color.

The total body length, including the tail, of

males is 270 to 310 cm (110-120 inch),
while females are 240 to 265 cm (94-104
inch). The tail measures 85 to 110 cm(33-43
inch).
Height at shoulder is 90 to 110 cm(35-43 inch).

Average wt. of male is 221.2 kg(488lb).

Average wt. of female is 139.7 kg(308lb).
Bengal tigers from northern India
subcontinent are as large as Siberian Tigers
with
length of skull of 332 to 376 cm(13.1-14.8 inch)

In northern India & Nepal, males have

average wt. of 235 kg9520lb) & females
have wt. of 140 kg(310lb).
Bengal tigers roar can be heard up to 3 km
(1.9 mile) away.

The pattern of genetic variation in the

Bengal tigers corresponds that these arrived
in India approximately 12,000 years ago. A
recent study of two independent fossil finds
from Sri Lanka , one dated approximately
16,500 years ago, tentatively classifies
them as a tiger.

Males matures at age of 4 5 years.

Female matures at age of 3 4 years.
Mating can occur at any time but most
prevalent between November & April.

A tigress come into heat at intervals of

about 3 9 weeks , & is receptive for 3 6
days. Incubation period of 104 106 days.
1 4 cubs are born in a shelter situated in tall
grass. New born cubs weigh 780 1600
g(2lb0.

Eyes & ears are closed. Milk teeth start to

erupt at about 2 3 weeks after birth &
replaced by permanent t dentition from 8.5
9.5 weeks of age. They suckle for 3 6 months.
Eat small amount of solid food at age of 2
months.

Begin to take part in hunting at age of 5 6

month. At age of 2 3 years , they start to
separate from family group & become
transient looking for an area, where they can
establish their on territory.

Average temperature of Bengal tiger is 37.5

C or 99.5 F.
Pulse of Siberian tiger is 70 80 beats /min. or Ryal Bengal
tiger is 24 50 beats/min
Respiration rate of Royal Bengal tiger is 4 12
breath/ min

Tigers are obligate carnivores. They prefer

hunting large ungulates such as chital ,
sambar , gaur & to lesser extent water
buffalo , nilgai & takin. Among medium size
prey
they frequently kill wild boar , hog deer etc.

Small prey species such as porcupines ,

hares & pea fowl form a small part in their
diet. They also take others predators
leopards , wolves , jackals , foxes &
crocodiles etc.

The nature of tigers hunting method & prey

availability results in a feast or famine
feeding style. They often consume 18 40
kg 940-88 lb)

In 2010, the population of Bengal tigers in

Indian sub continent was fewer than
2500.Of these , 1165 1657 are found in
India , 200 419 in Bangladesh , 100 194
Nepal
& 67 81 in Bhutan.

The area occupied by tigers is less

than
11,84,911 square km, a 41% decline
from the area estimated in mid 1990s.

The Bengal tiger has been a national

symbol
of India. Indias tiger population decreased
from 3642 in 1990s to just over 1400 from
2002 2008.

In 2004, 200 tigers were estimated to live in

Bangladesh, most of them in was
SUNDARBANS & a few in the eastern hilly
part of the country.

The tiger population in Terai of Nepal is split into 4 isolated

& vulnerable sub populations:
Chitwan national park
Parsa wildlife Reserve
Bardia National park
Sukla phanta wildlife

Number of adult tigers has reached 155

after a serious decline.A survey conducted
from DEC 2009 to MAR 2010 indicates 125
adult tigers live in Chitwan National park & its
border area covering 1261 km square.

There were probably at least 100,000

Bengal tigers as recently as the late 19
century with a range that cover entire
Indian sub continent, & also in Nepal ,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma & even eastern
Pakistan.

In 20th century, population of Bengal tigers

decreased by more than 95% , dropping to
a low of perhaps 2000 in the 1970s.The
Bengal tiger is extinct in Pakistan.

Length Males 9 10 ft ,head to tip to tail.

Shoulder height
Weight

36 inch.

male 400 575.

Sexual maturity

3 4 years

mating usually in spring.

Gestation period
Litter size

95 112 days.
2 4 cubs

Habit
diet

Solitary & nocturnal

Chital, wild boar, monkeys, gaur
& buffalo.

Call

roar , growl or purr.

Life span
15 years under normal
conditions.