Siberian Tiger

The Siberian Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica), is a subspecies of tiger which once ranged throughout Western Asia, Central Asia and eastern Russia.

It is the biggest of the eight recent tiger subspecies and the largest living felid, attaining 320 kg in exceptional specimens.

Siberian tigers reach sexual maturity at four years of age. A female signals her receptiveness by leaving urine deposits and scratch marks on trees. She will spend a week with the male, during which she is receptive for three days. Gestation lasts from three to 3½ months. Litter size is normally three or four cubs but there can be as many as six. The cubs are born blind in a sheltered den.

Cubs are divided equally between genders at birth. However, by adulthood there are usually two to four females for every male. The female cubs remain with their mothers longer, and later they establish territories close to their original ranges. Males, on the other hand, travel unaccompanied and range farther earlier in their lives, thus making them more vulnerable to poachers and other tigers.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberian_tiger - 15.04.2010