Tigers have been known for their large, muscular bodies and adorable fur coats. They have been here for millions of years, they are one of the oldest living creatures on our planet. Just like other wild animals, tigers have 9 species spread throughout the world, each one has unique features and characteristics. Now we will be comparing two of them. So, be with us and see the Siberian tigers vs Bengal tigers comparison.
The Siberian Tigers
They are the biggest tiger species of them all. They have an immense size and a powerful body. Their unique characteristics enable them to adapt the frigid climates easily. Their other names include the Manchurian tigers, Korean tigers, and Amur tigers. These tigers need a healthy amount of natural territory to roam, so the human development that leads to the destruction of their habitat has a serious effect on the Siberian tigers.
Scientific Name
Their scientific name is Panthera tigris altaica. The word “tigris” is the ancient Greek one meaning tiger. On the other hand the word “altaica” has been derived from the name of the Altaic language group, which is spoken across the Central and Asian Asian regions.
Appearance
These tigers have a thick fur coat which helps them to maintain their body temperature in frigid climates. Their whole fur is orange except their white underparts. They have narrow stripes on their whole body, which provides them an exceptional look as well as camouflage and stealth in the forests. But they have fewer stripes on their body than the other species.
Size ad Weight
These tigers are among the most powerful animals of any species living on Earth, probably because of their immense body size and weight. The largest ones can get up to 11 feet long while their average weight is between 700 and 800 pounds (317-362 kg). While the females are smaller and they weigh around 967 kg.
Diet
They are carnivorous creatures so they feed entirely on meat and nothing else. They have a nocturnal nature so they tend to hunt during nightimes. One more fact is that 9 out of their 10 hunts were unsuccessful, and only one of them was successful. Like other tiger species, they eat about 75 pounds of meat at one time. In the wild, they eat:
- Manchurian wapiti
- Siberian musk deer
- Siberian roe deer
- Sika deer
- Wild boar
- Long-tailed goral
- Hares
- Rabbits
- Salmon
- Pika
- Small Asiatic brown and black bears
While in captivity they tend to eat beef, chicken, rabbits, donkey, water buffalo, etc.
Predators
Siberian tigers do face some threats from wolves and bears. Their cubs are every time in danger of being hunted by them. Wolves and Bears very rarely attack a tiger but in some cases they do. Their main predators are humans, they destroy their habitats which leads them to multiple problems. They hunt them to use their skin in clothes and traditional medicines. Because of these activities, they are considered as the endangered species now.
Habitat
They tend to live in dense mixed forests where the number of prey is high. They are native to Northeast China, the Russian Far East, and North Korea. They are mostly found in the narrow range around the Sikhote-Alin mountain range near the Pacific Coast of Russia. This range slightly extends to China and North Korea.
Bengal Tigers
They are one of the most iconic creatures ever living on Earth. They are rare and regal both. They are the second largest cat species following the Siberian tigers. The history suggests their arrival in India some 12,000 to 15,000 years ago. The interesting fact about them is that they tend to attack from behind, if they notice that the target is watching them they find another target.
Scientific Name
Their scientific name is Panthera tigris tigris. “Panthera” is an ancient Greek word that roughly translates to Panther while the word “tigris” is also derived from the same language meaning tiger. These tigers were known as Royal Bengal tigers during the 19th century. But during the mid-20th century, their name was changed to Bengal tigers only.
Appearance
They have the orange to yellow coat with broader stripes than the Siberian ones. Their underparts are white just like other tiger species. They have more stripes than the Siberians and the color of their stripes varies from black to brown.
Size and Weight
The male Bengal tigers can get up to 10 feet long as they are slightly smaller than the Siberians. Their weight could vary between 397 and 569 pounds (180-258 kg). The female tigresses are smaller, they can get up to 8.5 feet long and weigh between 220 and 330 pounds (99-149 kg).
Diet
They are the tiger so they are carnivorous creatures and depend on meat for their survival. Like the Siberian tigers 9 of their hunts go unsuccessful and only one succeeds. They also eat 75 pounds of meat a single time. Their wild diet includes:
- Gaur
- Sambar
- Barasingha
- Water buffalo
- Sarow
- Chital
- Takin
- Wild boar
- Hog deer
- Gray langurs
- Hares
- Peafowl
- Porcupines
- Cattle and Other Livestock
- Elephants (rarely)
- Humans (if they attack humans then rarely they eat them as well)
Predators
In the wild, their cubs are threatened by wolves and may be of bears. The adults are very rarely attacked by a bear. Humans are their main predators, they hunt them to get their parts and sell them. Humans also destroy their habitats which leads to their deaths due to starvation.
Habitat
Bengal tigers are native to Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Buthan, Indues River valley, and Southeastern China. The population in Pakistan is almost finished and nowadays they mainly inhibit Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Southeastern China.
Siberian Tigers vs Bengal Tigers: Comparison
| SIBERIAN TIGER | BENGAL TIGER | |
| Length | 250 to 396 cm (males) / 167 to 182 cm (females) | 270 to 310 cm (males) / 240 to 265 cm (females) |
| Weight | 475 to 660 lbs (males) / 303 lbs (females) | 397 to 569 lb (males) / 220 to 350 lb (females) |
| Coat Color | Pale dull brown in winter | Bright yellow to orange |
| Greatest Skull Length | 406 mm | 376 mm |
| Distribution | Russian Far East | Indian Subcontinent |
| Primary Diet | Sika deer, amur moose | Chital, sambar, nilgai |
| Newborn cubs’ weight | 1.2 kg | 1.6 kg |
| Threats | Poaching, human hunting | Poaching, habitat loss |
| Maximum lifespan | 18 years (wild) | 15 years (wild) |
| 25 years (captivity) | 25 years (captivity) | |
| Total population | Fewer than 500 | More the 3500 |
How to Recognize One?
Recognizing one of them is not as easy but not as much difficult. The Bengal tiger would have a yellowish texture on its coat while the color of the Siberian tiger’s coat would be a bright orange. Take a good hard look and you will realize that the one with fewer and narrower stripes is the Siberian while the one that has more broader stripes on the body is the Bengal tiger.
Conclusion
More or less they both are the same, their behavior has almost no difference. Being a tiger species they both are aggressive and can attack anything if they feel a threat. Both eat almost the same amount of food at a single time. Both have a nocturnal nature and are carnivorous.
FAQs
Siberian Tigers vs Bengal Tigers Who Would Win?
If it is a fighting competition then it would be a close fight as both of them are powerful. Being bigger and heavier the Siberian tiger would have a slight edge over the Bengal one.
Siberian Tigers vs Grizzly Bear Who Would Win?
The Grizzly bear has a brute force but the Siberian tiger has much more speed. The only advantage a Grizzly bear would have is his weight as he can go up to 1,000 pounds. Due to that a Grizzly bear has an edge over the Siberian tiger.
What Genus Do Bengal and Siberian Tiger Belong To?
The Siberian and Bengal tigers belong to the genus Panthera.
What Order Do Bengal and Siberian Tiger Belong To?
The Siberian and Bengal tigers belong to the order Carnivora.
How Fast Can a Bengal Tiger Run?
They can reach the maximum speed between 35 and 40 miles per hour despite having such a heavy body. But they can only manage this speed for a short burst after that their speed will decrease to save energy.
Why are the Bengal Tigers Famous?
They are famous because of their admirable looks. Also, humans admire their tenacity while stalking their prey. Some folks still believe that this is a royal tiger and a royal species.
Why the Tiger’s Stripes are So Unique?
They are unique because just like a human fingerprint each tiger has its own stripe pattern. This helps a lot to identify an individual.
Which Conditions Are Suited To Tigers?
Every condition and environment suits them as they can adapt to the condition quite easily. They have unique features that help them a lot to live in any condition. They can live in striking cold temperatures as well as in tropical hot temperatures.
Are Tigers Endangered?
Yes, they are endangered of being extinct because of habitat loss and starvation in the wild, their population is suffering such chaotic disasters.
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