The Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is the nominated tiger subspecies native to the Indian subcontinent, primarily found in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and southwestern China. **Taxonomy and Physical Characteristics** * **Scientific Name:** *Panthera tigris tigris* • * Coat **Coat & Color:** Yellowish-orange coat with dark brown or black stripes. White, golden, and pseudo-melanistic color variants also exist. * **Size and Weight:** * Adult males weigh 167–261 kg (up to 280 kg) and measure up to 3 meters long. * Adult females weigh 110–180 kg (smaller individuals in the Sundarbans weigh around 75–80 kg). * **Life Expectancy:** Around 10 to 15 years in the wild, though some can survive up to 20 years. **Distribution and Habitat** * **Geographic Range:** India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and southwestern China. India holds the vast majority (about 75%) of the global population. * **Habitats:** Tropical rainforests, subtropical forests, wet and dry deciduous forests, mangroves (such as the Sundarbans), and grasslands. * **Historical Presence:** Thought to have inhabited the Indian subcontinent since the Late Pleistocene, roughly 12,000 to 16,500 years ago. **Ecology and Behavior** * **Social Structure:** Solitary and territorial apex predators. * **Diet:** Carnivores hunting large ungulates including chital, sambar, gaur, nilgai, barasingha, and wild pig, occasionally preying on sloth bears, leopards, or elephant calves. **Cultural and Historical Significance** * **National Symbol:** It is the national animal of both India and Bangladesh. * **Mythology & History:** Depicted in ancient artifacts such as the Indus Valley Pashupati seal and associated with Hindu deities like Shiva and Durga. **Conservation Status** * **Threats:** Endangered due to poaching (for illegal wildlife trade), habitat loss, fragmentation, and human-tiger conflict. * **Population:** Estimated globally around 3,100 to 3,800+ wild individuals, with the largest numbers residing in Indian tiger reserves.