Maltese tiger (SciiFii)

The Maltese tiger (Panthera tigris maltesensis) is a subspecies of tiger (Panthera tigris) that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, wetlands, forests, and open woodlands across China, the Korean Peninsula, Pakistan, and Siberia to help boost biodiversity. The Maltese tiger is a rather large tiger subspecies, with the males and females averaging about 270 to 310 centimeters (110 to 120 inches) and 240 to 265 centimeters (94 to 104 inches) respectively, including a tail of 85 to 110 centimeters (33 to 43 inches) long. They typically range 90 to 110 centimeters (35 to 43 inches) in height at the shoulders. The standard weight of males ranges from 175 to 260 kilograms (386 to 573 lbs), while that of the females ranges from 100 to 160 kilograms (220 to 350 lb). The Maltese tigers can be distinguished from other tiger subspecies by having a bluish-grey coat (similarly to a Russian Blue domestic cat breed) with black stripes and a white belly. The Maltese tiger is a carnivore, like all tigers, and prefers hunting large ungulates such as chital, sambar, gaur, water buffalo, and, to a lesser extent, also barasingha, yaks, nilgai, gorals, serow and takin. Among the medium-sized prey species it frequently kills wild boar, and occasionally hog deer, Reeve's muntjac, macaque, and langur. The Maltese tiger has no definite mating and birth seasons. Most young are born in December and April. Young have also been found in March, May, October and November. Males reach maturity at 4–5 years of age, and females at 3–4 years. A Maltese tiger comes into heat at intervals of about 3–9 weeks, and is receptive for 3–6 days. After a gestation period of 104–106 days, 1–4 cubs are born in a shelter situated in tall grass, thick bush or in caves. Newborn cubs weigh 780 to 1,600 grams (1.72 to 3.53 lbs) and they have a thick woolly fur that is shed after 3.5–5 months. Their eyes and ears are closed. Their milk teeth start to erupt at about 2–3 weeks after birth, and are slowly replaced by permanent dentition from 8.5 to 9.5 weeks of age onwards. They suckle for 3–6 months, and begin to eat small amounts of solid food at about 2 months of age. At this time, they follow their mother on her hunting expeditions and begin to take part in hunting at 5–6 months of age. At the age of 2–3 years, they slowly start to separate from the family group and become transient, looking out for an area, where they can establish their own home range. Young males move further away from their native home range than young females. Once the family group has split, the mother comes into heat again. The conservation status of the Maltese tiger is Endangered due to some habitat loss and historic poaching, however, thanks to the conservationists, the Maltese tiger is a protected species.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii