Tigers, one of the most recognizable of the big cats, are an endangered species with many subspecies out of which some have already gone extinct. Multiple of these lived during the prehistoric times. In addition to natural calamities and other similar threats, loss of habitat, hunting, and poaching are the main reasons behind such extinction, especially in the recent years. Below are the names of tigers that have been wiped off the earth.
8 Tiger Species and Subspecies that are Extinct
1. Caspian Tiger(Caspian sea regions, Afghanistan & China, 1970’s)
Alternatively known as Hyrcanian tiger, Babre Mazandaran, Turaniantiger, and Balkhash tiger, its geographical range is quite prominent through thecommon names. Often considered to be one of the biggest cats that ever lived, thenarrow stripes on its body were closely placed with each other, creating arecognizable pattern. Habitat loss and hunting are two main reasons of itsextinction that happened around 1970.
2. Javan Tiger(Java Islands of Indonesia, mid-1970s/early 80s)
The Javan tiger got its name from its distribution in theislands of Java, though from mitochondrial DNA testing it has been deduced thatthese tigers inhabited in the Sunda Islands as well. Since there is no way totrace the exact year of its extinction, it is assumed that it was alive till the1970s or early 1980s. Some specimens were kept at zoos, but those too got affectedby the Second World War and died because of attacks and lack of food.
3. Bali or BalineseTiger (Bali Island of Indonesia, 1950s)
In the native Indonesian language, these tigers are calledSamong or Harimau Bali. The first tiger subspecies to be officially consideredextinct, it happened around 1950. Like the Javan tigers, they also lived in theSunda Islands. It is believed that these tigers mainly preyed on Javan rusa. Thelast reported Bali tiger was killed in West Bali. Growing human population intheir native island, along with hunting pushed the tigers to extinction.
4. Trinil Tiger (Trinil and Java, 50,000 years ago)
The prehistoric tiger subspecies, scientifically known as Panthera tigris trinilensis, wentextinct around 50,000 years ago. Fossils indicate that these tigers might besimilar to the Indo-Chinese tigers in appearance, though this has not beencategorically proven.
5. Longdan Tiger (Gansu province)
This tiger, as assumed to be the world’s oldest one, lived around2 million years ago. Scientists have guessed from its fossils that the tigermight have been similar to jaguar in physical appearance. The scientific name Panthera zdanskyi has been given inhonor of the Australian paleontologist Otto A. Zdansky.
6. Wanhsien Tiger (Sichuan Province of China)
Scientifically known as Pantheratigris acutidens, this tiger subspecies was first elaborately described inthe year 1928. However, the scientific name had not been given till later in1947, when American paleontologist Walter W. Granger and Dutch paleontologist DirkAlbert Hooijer named it. A specimen of its humerus bone as found is around 12inches long, while a tibia was also found, around 11.7 inches in length and 3.2inches in diameter.
7. Ngandong Tiger (Sundaland of Indonesia)
Assumed to be similar in shape and size with the Bengaltiger, or slightly larger, the fossils of these tigers, scientifically known asPanthera tigris soloensis, have beenfound from the Ngandong village. The probable weight of the male Ngandong tigercould be around 470 kg.
8. Bornean Tiger (Sunda Island, earlyHolocene era)
Although native people have been sure about the existence ofthis tiger, Scientists failed to find anything that would prove these claimsfor years. Then some excavations produced a navicular bone, a metacarpal bone,and an upper canine tooth that are believed to be of this animal. While accordingto native people these tigers originated long before the prehistoric era, thescientific evidence indicates that the tiger might have existed from the latePleistocene era to early Holocene era. The natives also claim that these tigershad a brown body with faint stripes.
White tigers, often thought to be extinct, are actually a variation of the Bengal Tiger with a specific genetic combination that gives them the color. And as long as Bengal tigers are there, white tigers can still be born.
The common concern about tiger in general should be the rapid drop in their number as they are losing their natural habitat due to human interference. Wildlife rescue and preservation organizations around the world are working hard to protect and revive the population of the rest of the species. There are numerous reserved forests and protected areas where tigers can now live safely, though the threat is not gone yet.
