Liger

Liger hybrids resulting from the crossing of a male lion (Panthera leo) and a female tiger (Panthera tigris ) are apparent. There is no scientific name of the mixed form, a possible name is Panthera leo x tigris. The term " Liger " is a portmanteau word, which is derived from the name of the parent animals. The biological counterpart of the liger is the Töwe ( Tigon ), which offspring of a male tiger and a lioness.

Liger come not in the wild before but are bred in captivity. Males are infertile, so that a reproduction is not possible, why do not constitute Liger own way. From the look and feel of her they have both lion and tiger features. A striking feature of Ligern is their size, which puts them in a row with the largest cat species of the earth's history and also outperforms other big cats hybrids.

• 2.1 crossroads
• 2.2 Reproduction

Description

Liger reach a total length of 3 to 3.5 meters, which they reach the size of very large Siberian tiger males. Your weight may exceed 350 kilograms. Thus Liger are sometimes heavier than their parent species: In some cases (especially in captivity ) male lions or tigers can indeed weigh more than 300 kg, but still remain short of the maximum body weight of Ligers.

Subtracting extinct big cats for comparison, the liger is comparable to the American lion, the Mosbacher lion or saber-toothed cat Smilodon populator. The weight of the latter is estimated to be 220-360 kg. The Guinness Book of Records recognizes the Liger Hercules at a size of 3.3 meters and a weight of over 400 kg as the largest cat in the world. The largest reliably transmitted value for the total length of a Siberian tiger is 350 cm over curves ( measured over all body bends ). The animal was killed in 1943 in Northeast China

Appearance

The appearance of individual Liger can differ considerably and reflects different features of the parental species resist. Part of the male liger has a mane, which, however, is weaker than pronounced at higher lions and attaches in the forehead. Sometimes have male Liger ever on a mane. Other Liger have a " beard " like Tiger.

The basic color of the coat is either sand color as the lion or orange as the tiger. The coat is crossed by light strips on the rear part of the body occur particularly strong. In addition, the strips can partially pass into spots. From the Tigers side comes the bright peritoneum of the Liger. They have a black tail tip, but usually lack the tassel of a lion.

Behavior

Liger show both behavior of lions and tigers. Occasionally consist opposites due to the different way of life of both parent species.

Lions live in prides, whereas tigers are loners. Especially in female Ligern therefore there is a conflict, either a member of a group or social inline to be secreted. Unlike lions Liger like to swim and thus assume a preference of tigers. The hybrid can be articulated in the form of both parental species by roaring like a lion or a tiger " Paff " eject - lute.

As with all hybrid species may in some cases the behavior of the young animal, if this depends on the type of the Father, trigger stress in the mother.

Hybrid formation

Intersection

Thus, from the intersection of the two largest cat species shows a Liger, it is crucial that the lion and the tiger male is female. The reverse combination yields a Töwen ( Tigon ), which has different characteristics.

Liger do not occur in the wild, because their natural habitats do not currently overlap. This also applies to the subspecies Asiatic lion and Bengal tigers, both of which occur in India. Nevertheless, for centuries Descriptions on wild cats that could apply to Liger. Previously inhabited lions and tigers also each significantly larger distribution areas, so that at least the external conditions for a meeting were given in the wild. Yet there is no evidence for the existence of Ligern outside human posture.

Because of the different social behavior of both species a pairing would be difficult at a chance meeting in nature. In captivity, the reproductive instinct of the big cats cause they are more willing to mate with dissimilar individuals.

Reproduction

Although lion and tiger to distinguish it from the other cat species in terms of their size, they are not as closely related as lion, leopard and jaguar with each other. The Tiger separated phylogenetically nearly four million years ago from the other species of the genus Panthera. The genetic combination with a lion is therefore difficult.

While lion and tigers can produce offspring together, but this is limited in its reproduction. Unlike many other hybrid variants female ligers are often fertile. Males, however, are always sterile. Liger can not procreate with each other therefore. In order to produce new individuals, permanently lions and tigers have to be crossed. However, a cross between female and male Ligern Töwen is possible. This crossing is referred to informally as Tölig (English Tilon ). Tölige can reproduce with each other, but the habitats between male and female specimens do not overlap.

Female Liger can have offspring with male lions or tigers. Their descendants then correspond to three -quarters of the way of the father. Unofficial names for these mixed forms loud Li- Liger or Panthera leo x ( x leo tigris ) and Ti - Liger or Panthera tigris x ( x leo tigris ). A Li- Liger named Kiara was born in September 2012 in the zoo of Novosibirsk and, according to the newspaper taz the first animal of its species.

Breeding

The hybrid formation of large cats in zoos or circuses is partly due to ignorance. Since the 19th century, the emergence of Ligern was also carried out on schedule to win attractions. Carl Hagenbeck bred several big cats hybrids for his menagerie.

The intersection of lions and tigers is not risk free, since both the young and the mother may be damaged. Liger have an increased likelihood of suffering birth defects and to die early. The liger babies The size can be dangerous for the tigress at birth and may require a cesarean section.

Similar to white lions and tigers bring Liger visitors in zoos and animal parks. From the standpoint of conservation seen from the breeding of such special forms, however, is not useful. Several big cat sub- species are threatened with extinction, so that the resources of zoos and held there lions and tigers are needed for the reproduction of these species.