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Amur Tiger

Panthera tigris altaica

The largest cat in the world, a pale, thick-furred tiger of the snowy forests of eastern Russia and northern China.

🐆 Big Cats
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About the Amur Tiger

Amur tigers, once called Siberian tigers, live in the mountain forests of eastern Russia, with a few across the border in China. A male can weigh up to 450 pounds and be 10 feet long from head to tail. Their fur is lighter and thicker than other tigers', and it grows even lighter in winter. Thick fur on their paws keeps their feet warm and quiet as they stalk elk, boar and deer.[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name
Panthera tigris altaica[1]
Size
Males up to 10 feet long from head to tail.[1]
Weight
Males up to 450 pounds.[1]
Lifespan
10 to 14 years in the wild.[1]
Diet
Carnivore. Elk, boar and deer.[1]
Habitat
Mountain forests with long, harsh winters.[1]
Where it lives
Eastern Russia, plus a small population in China.[1]
Group life
Solitary.[1]
Babies
1 to 5 cubs after about 3 to 3.5 months of pregnancy.[1]
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN Red List, tiger as a species, assessed 2021). About 400 Amur tigers live in the wild.[1][2]

Fun facts

  • Amur tigers are the largest cats in the world.[1]
  • Each tiger's stripe pattern is unique, like a fingerprint.[1]
  • Their fur turns lighter in winter.[1]

Vocabulary

subspecies
A group within a species that lives in a certain area and looks a little different from other groups.
stalk
To follow prey quietly before attacking.
territory
An area an animal lives in and defends.
poaching
Illegal hunting or capturing of wild animals.
endangered
A conservation label meaning a species faces a very high risk of dying out in the wild.

See it in person

Sources

  1. [1] Oregon Zoo. “Amur tiger.” https://www.oregonzoo.org/animals/amur-tiger (accessed 2026-10-02)
  2. [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Panthera tigris (Tiger).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/15955/214862019 (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

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