Sumatran Tiger
Panthera tigris sumatrae
The smallest tiger, found only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, with closely set stripes and webbed toes for swimming.
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About the Sumatran Tiger
Sumatran tigers live only in the rainforests of Sumatra, an island in Indonesia. They are the smallest tigers: males usually weigh 200 to 300 pounds. Their stripes are closer together than other tigers' stripes, and webbing between their toes makes them very fast swimmers. They can jump about 16 feet up and 27 feet forward.[1]
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Panthera tigris sumatrae[1]
- Size
- 9 to 12 feet long, including the tail.[1]
- Weight
- Males usually 200 to 300 pounds. Females 180 to 300 pounds.[1]
- Lifespan
- 10 to 12 years in the wild.[1]
- Diet
- Carnivore. Almost any animal, from large prey to lizards, frogs, fish and crabs.[1]
- Habitat
- Rainforests.[1]
- Where it lives
- Only the island of Sumatra, Indonesia.[1]
- Group life
- Solitary, except mothers with cubs.[1]
- Babies
- Pregnancy lasts about 100 days. One to six cubs, about 2 pounds each, stay with their mother about two years.[1]
- Conservation status
- Endangered (IUCN Red List, tiger as a species, assessed 2021).[2]
Fun facts
Vocabulary
- subspecies
- A group within a species that lives in a certain area and looks a little different from other groups.
- papillae
- Tiny, sharp bumps on a cat's tongue used to clean meat from bones and to groom.
- webbing
- Skin between the toes that helps with swimming.
- solitary
- Living alone rather than in a group.
- endangered
- A conservation label meaning a species faces a very high risk of dying out in the wild.
See it in person
- Zoo AtlantaAtlanta, Georgia · All AnimalsSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗
Sources
- [1] Zoo Atlanta. “Sumatran Tiger.” https://zooatlanta.org/animal/sumatran-tiger/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [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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