The tiger, an apex predator of Asia, holds the title for the largest cat species in the world. The maximum size a tiger can achieve is not uniform across its entire range. Significant variation exists, primarily driven by geographic location, which has led to the development of distinct subspecies differing dramatically in mass and length. Understanding tiger size requires looking closely at the specific metrics used by scientists and the natural history of the different populations.
Standard Measurements of Tiger Size
Scientists use standard measurements to accurately quantify a tiger’s size, with weight often being the most common comparative metric. Mass provides a direct assessment of the animal’s bulk, which can range from over 200 pounds to nearly 700 pounds in the wild.
Length is measured in two ways: total length, which includes the head, body, and tail, and is measured either “over the curves” or “between the pegs.” The “between the pegs” or “straight line” measurement is taken from the nose to the tip of the tail stretched flat and is considered a more standardized and reliable method. Shoulder height is the third common measurement, taken from the ground to the top of the scapula. These standardized measurements are essential for comparing individuals and subspecies.
Size Differences Across Major Subspecies
The maximum size a tiger can reach is largely determined by its subspecies, with the largest individuals belonging to the continental populations. The Siberian (Amur) tiger and the Bengal tiger are the two largest living subspecies, consistently demonstrating the greatest dimensions.
A large male Siberian tiger can reach a total length of up to 10 feet (3 meters) and weigh up to 660 pounds (300 kg) in the wild. Historically, even larger individuals have been reported, with some exceptional specimens pushing past 800 pounds.
Bengal tigers rival their northern cousins in size, with large males commonly reaching weights up to 570 pounds (260 kg) and lengths of 10 feet. One of the largest confirmed wild tigers on record was a Bengal male shot in India in 1967 that measured over 11 feet (3.37 meters) over the curves and weighed approximately 857 pounds (389 kg).
Conversely, the Sumatran tiger represents the smallest viable subspecies, an example of insular dwarfism due to its island habitat. Male Sumatran tigers typically weigh between 220 and 310 pounds (100–140 kg) and rarely exceed 8 feet (2.4 meters) in total length.
Environmental and Biological Factors Affecting Growth
An individual tiger’s final size is influenced by several biological and environmental variables. One of the most pronounced differences is sexual dimorphism, where male tigers are substantially larger than females across all subspecies. Male Bengal tigers, for example, average around 488 pounds, while females average closer to 308 pounds.
The quality and availability of prey directly affect a tiger’s ability to reach its maximum size. Tigers living in habitats with abundant, large-bodied ungulates, such as gaur and sambar deer, tend to be heavier than those in areas with scarcer food resources. Following Bergmann’s rule, tigers in colder northern climates, like the Siberian tiger, tend to be larger than their tropical counterparts to better conserve body heat. Growth continues until a tiger reaches physical maturity, which is typically around four to five years old for males.
Tiger Size Compared to Other Large Predators
The tiger is the largest of all wild cats, surpassing its closest relative, the lion. Male African lions generally weigh between 370 and 500 pounds (170–230 kg), making the largest Bengal and Siberian tigers heavier and longer on average.
The jaguar, the third-largest feline, is significantly smaller than the tiger, with the largest males weighing up to 350 pounds. The tiger is the largest terrestrial carnivore whose diet is exclusively meat, but it is not the largest carnivore on land overall. That distinction belongs to the largest bears, namely the Polar bear and the Kodiak brown bear, which can weigh twice as much as the biggest tigers, sometimes reaching over 1,500 pounds.