The tiger (Panthera tigris) is one of the world’s most recognizable and powerful predators. While this large cat is a single species, its populations across Asia exhibit distinct differences shaped by their unique environments. These regional variations have led to a complex system of classification, resulting in different numbers being cited for the total types of tigers that exist. Understanding the classification helps clarify the current conservation status and the historical range of these animals.
Clarifying Tiger Classification
Tigers are divided into distinct populations called subspecies, not “breeds” like domesticated animals. A subspecies is a geographically isolated population that has developed unique physical or genetic traits but can still interbreed with others of the same species. These separate groups are defined by a combination of genetics, morphology, and the region they inhabit. Historically, nine distinct tiger subspecies were recognized across Asia. Although some recent genetic studies propose simplifying this classification, the traditional count of six living and three extinct types remains the standard for conservation efforts.
The Extant Tiger Subspecies
Of the nine historically recognized subspecies, six still exist today in the wild or in captivity.
The Bengal tiger (P. t. tigris) is the most numerous, primarily inhabiting India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. It is characterized by its traditional orange coat and black stripes. Found in the Russian Far East and Northeast China, the Amur tiger (P. t. altaica), also known as the Siberian tiger, is the largest of all the subspecies. It has a thick, pale orange coat and dense fur to withstand the harsh, cold climate.
The Sumatran tiger (P. t. sumatrae) is the smallest of the remaining tigers and is found exclusively on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Its coat is notably darker, and its stripes are closely spaced and often doubled, an adaptation for its dense forest habitat. The Indochinese tiger (P. t. corbetti) is distributed across parts of Southeast Asia, including Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos. This subspecies is generally smaller than the Bengal tiger, with shorter, narrower stripes.
A population in Peninsular Malaysia was genetically identified as a separate group in 2004, leading to the designation of the Malayan tiger (P. t. jacksoni). Physically, it bears a close resemblance to the Indochinese tiger. The final extant subspecies is the South China tiger (P. t. amoyensis). This mainland tiger is considered functionally extinct in the wild, as no wild individual has been reliably recorded since the late 1980s.
The Extinct Tiger Subspecies
The historical count of nine subspecies is completed by three populations that have been declared extinct in the modern era.
The Bali tiger (P. t. balica) was the smallest of all the known subspecies, confined solely to the island of Bali. This small island population was the first to disappear, with the last documented individual killed in 1937, leading to its extinction by the 1940s.
The Javan tiger (P. t. sondaica) inhabited the Indonesian island of Java and was slightly larger than its Balinese relative. Relentless hunting and the conversion of forest into agricultural land led to its decline. It was last positively sighted in the mid-1970s and is presumed extinct since the early 1980s.
The third extinct subspecies is the Caspian tiger (P. t. virgata), which once ranged widely across Central Asia, from Turkey and Iran to Afghanistan. This large tiger, known for its bright coat and thin, closely spaced brown stripes, disappeared from its vast range by the early 1970s.