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Appearance
Tigers (Panthera tigris) are the largest of all the cats, the Siberian measuring as big as 10 feet from the head to the tip of its tail. Its
head, body, tail and limbs are covered in narrow black or dark
brown stripes, and sometimes grey, giving it the distinct physical
appearance that sets it apart from the other big cats. It's long thick
fur varies in colour, depending on the sub-species, and ranges
from a rusty orange to a yellow orange, with the underparts being creamy to white. They are also known to be white, pure white and even golden, but these forms are quite rare, particularly the golden. These colour variations are only known to exist in the Bengal tigers (Panthera tigris tigris). Their coats become thicker and paler in colour in the colder regions, particularly where the Siberian tiger inhabits in the northern areas of Russia, whereas in the tropical climates it is shorter and darker. Size and colour is dependant on its region. In all sub-species, males appear to have longer fur around the back of their heads, referred to as a "ruff", that is specifically distinct in
the Sumatran males.
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