Adaptations to Live in the Wild
Can You See Me Now?
Although tigers are easy to see in most zoo settings, their distinctive stripes and coloration provide the camouflage needed for a large predator in the wild. The pattern of stripes on a tigers face is as distinctive as human fingerprints – no two tigers have exactly the same stripe pattern.
Crunch Time!
Tigers have canine teeth four inches long – longer canines than any other predator. Using their big canine teeth and their powerful jaws, tigers can kill prey with one quick bite. Their carnassial teeth (teeth used to shear meat) are adapted for gripping and tearing flesh.
Night Vision!
Tigers have highly developed binocular vision, which helps them gauge the distance to prey animals they are chasing. The tapetum lucidum, a mirror like layer in the back of the eye, reflects light back through the eye to help produce a brighter image in low light. They see as well as humans in the daytime but at night their sight is five times more acute which allows them to hunt effectively in low light.
My, What Big Claws You Have!
Like most cats, tigers have retractable claws. They usually keep their claws tucked in the fur on their paws. This keeps the claws from wearing down too quickly and also allows them to move silently across hard surfaces when sneaking up on prey. The claws are extended when grabbing prey or scratching an itch
What Is For Lunch?
Tigers can eat up 100 pounds at one time. Hardly ever are they gifted this much food, but being able to hold this much food helps when Winters can last for a several months at a time, making any source of energy all most impossible to find. And on a even smaller note of catch.
Although tigers are easy to see in most zoo settings, their distinctive stripes and coloration provide the camouflage needed for a large predator in the wild. The pattern of stripes on a tigers face is as distinctive as human fingerprints – no two tigers have exactly the same stripe pattern.
Crunch Time!
Tigers have canine teeth four inches long – longer canines than any other predator. Using their big canine teeth and their powerful jaws, tigers can kill prey with one quick bite. Their carnassial teeth (teeth used to shear meat) are adapted for gripping and tearing flesh.
Night Vision!
Tigers have highly developed binocular vision, which helps them gauge the distance to prey animals they are chasing. The tapetum lucidum, a mirror like layer in the back of the eye, reflects light back through the eye to help produce a brighter image in low light. They see as well as humans in the daytime but at night their sight is five times more acute which allows them to hunt effectively in low light.
My, What Big Claws You Have!
Like most cats, tigers have retractable claws. They usually keep their claws tucked in the fur on their paws. This keeps the claws from wearing down too quickly and also allows them to move silently across hard surfaces when sneaking up on prey. The claws are extended when grabbing prey or scratching an itch
What Is For Lunch?
Tigers can eat up 100 pounds at one time. Hardly ever are they gifted this much food, but being able to hold this much food helps when Winters can last for a several months at a time, making any source of energy all most impossible to find. And on a even smaller note of catch.