Tigers are the largest wild cats in the world. The biggest variety, the Siberian tiger, can weigh as much as a grand piano. It has paws the size of frying pans and claws as long as surgical scalpels. Its skull is the size of a beach ball, its body is as long as a kayak, and its canine teeth – oh it’s canine teeth – are the longest of any living land cat.
The protruding part of the curved, conical gnasher may be ‘just’ 10 centimeters long, but its roots are deep. Up to 60 per cent of the fang is buried inside the heavy jawbone, which helps to anchor it against struggling prey.
With a sturdy skull and well-muscled jaw, a tiger can deliver a bite force of around 3,375 newtons through its canines. That is almost a third greater than a lion’s, more than twice that of a brown bear, and over six times that of a domestic dog.
They get peckish too. An adult tiger can consume up to 40 kilograms of meat in a single sitting - the equivalent of 350 quarter-pounders. Apex predators, they’re built for strength and explosive bursts of speed. Their flexible spine helps to extend each stride, while powerful hind limbs drive them forward.
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- Tiger guide: species facts, how they hunt and where to see in the wild
The result is a hunter that can explode from cover, reaching speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour. Elite human sprinters max out at around 45 kilometres per hour, so there’s really no chance of outrunning a tiger. Tigers tire quickly, but so do we.
Running is also just a really bad idea. Tigers are hardwired to chase moving prey, and while they generally avoid people, a person who starts running can trigger a pursuit response. The best option then, is never to challenge a tiger to a race, and if you do find yourself in an accidental sprint-off, STOP! The official advice from wild cat charity Panthera, is not to run or turn your back. Hold your ground, make lots of noise and if you can manage it, make intentional movements towards the tiger to frighten it.
Thankfully, most of us will never have to test this advice. Our nearest brush with a tiger is likely to be The Tiger Who Came to Tea – where the biggest danger is running out of beer and sandwiches.
- 11 staggering tiger photographs reveal the athletic power and brutal ferociousness of this deadly apex predator
- What's the difference between a tiger and a lion? Just how do these majestic big cats differ in size, power –and which is the best hunter?
- Why cats have slit-shaped pupils, why some cats roar and some purr and the feline that can leap 9 metres – 19 wild cat facts that will boggle your mind
