Otherwise it is very adaptable and inhabits extremely varied climatic zones. The tiger has evolved into eight subspecies, each adapted to a different habitat and climate. The tiger generally lives and hunts alone although the territories of a male overlap those of several females. In areas of India rich in prey, male tigers can have home ranges of about 60km and females about 25km. But in Siberia, where prey is sparse, male home ranges can be as big as 1,000km.
Tigers sleep and rest under cover for much of the day.
When it is hot they often lie in water, for, unlike other cats, tigers are happy to swim. In the late afternoon the tiger starts its silent hunt for prey, and may cover 30km or more in a night. Its sharp eyesight and sensitive hearing guide it to likely prey. Having located its victim, the tiger begins a slow, silent stalk. Its striped coat provides perfect camouflage in the forest and grasslands.