The largest cat in the world, the Siberian tiger is a fierce predator. This huge beast silently stalks prey, then pounces with tremendous force and delivers a crushing bite. This tiger hunts well in the snow, and has adapted to living in one of the coldest places in the world, Siberia, where temperatures drop up to 60°F below zero.
Hidden Hunter: A Siberian tiger's fur is orange, with black stripes all over and splotches of white on its belly. These colors help the tiger stay camouflaged in tall grasses; during the eight cold months of weather, the tiger's white underbelly and white markings on its face keep it hidden in snow.
Concealed Weapon: This big cat has five long, curved claws that it can use to slash at prey, or wound enemies that might attack its cubs. The retractable claws stay inside its paws while the tiger is walking so they stay sharp.
Cold Killer[]
Snow doesn't stop this big cat.
When hunting, a Siberian Tiger prowls among forest foliage or snow and stalks potential prey quietly until it's within range to pounce. This hunter can leap up to three times its length (about 27 feet) and tackle a victim. The tiger usually breaks the prey's back and delivers a crushing bite to its neck. If the animal doesn't die right away, the tiger holds on with its jaws and penetrates the victim's windpipe with its five-inch canine teeth; the victim usually dies within seconds.
Snow Mobile: If a potential victim escapes a tiger's initial ambush, it still isn't safe. These huge predators can chase prey at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour over soft snow, giving victims little chance of escape.
Winter Coat: Siberia is one of the coldest regions on Earth. Siberian tigers are specially adapted to withstand its harsh winters. These creatures develop an extra layer of fat and a longer, thicker coat to combat the cold.
Cubs' Play[]
- Newborn Siberian tigers can't do much by themselves. They are dependent on their mother, who carries them around in her mouth.
- As the cubs grow and are ready to learn hunting techniques, the mother wounds a deer, then brings it back for the cubs to practice on.
- Once they begin to perfect their skills, the mother brings them out on the hunt with her; she shows a cub how to silently stalk a wild boar before attacking.
Trading Card[]
Trivia[]
- The Siberian tiger's size is mentioned on the card of it's cousin, the Bengal Tiger.
- The Siberian tiger is featured on several Monster Mania cards:
- It is pit against the Grizzly Bear in a Smack Down on Monster Mania 29.
- It is then featured in Head in the Clouds on Monster Mania 32.
- It is once again featured in On Your Mark... on Monster Mania 42.
- It is then featured as part of the creature in Build-A-Beast on Monster Mania 43.
- It is later featured in You Ought to be In Pictures on Monster Mania 80.
- It is next featured in Big & Small on Monster Mania 83.
- The "Cubs' Play" illustrations are shared with the Wildlife Explorer card; here, titled "From Cub to Stripling", there is an additional first image of the mother laying down with her recently birthed cubs.