Liger Vs Tigon Big Cat Smack Down: Cool Hybrid Animal Facts For Kids
Gallery
What happens when animals, in this case, lions and tigers, breed in an unorthodox manner and end up producing crossbreed offspring?
Ligers and tigons are hybrid big cats, quite unique in nature and evidently have similar characteristics as their parent cats. While they do not naturally occur in the wild, their existence has a historical precedent along with a mixed lineage.
In recent times, zoo and captive breeding programs have been successful in getting tigers and lions to mate with one another, as a result creating a number of hybrid offspring.
Even though mostly this happens as an accident, certain breeders purposely put a male lion with a female tiger and a male tiger with a female lion in the hopes of getting them to mate and produce ligers and tigons, respectively. As a result, these animals are bred in captivity.
Even though both these big cat hybrids are a result of lions and tigers crossbreeding, their parentage is what establishes the main differences between them.
If you liked reading this article, you might also like mussels vs clams and goat vs lamb here on Kidadl.
What is the difference between liger and tigon?
Ligers and tigons are both the results of a cross between two wild cats, lion and tiger. Even though they are hybrids of the same two big cats, they have different parent pairings.
Ligers are produced when a female tiger and a male lion are crossed with each other. Similarly, tigons are produced when a male tiger and a female lion crossbreed.
Along with different parent pairings, ligers and tigons have a set of differences in terms of size and weight. As for the color and markings, it is almost the same for both, with only small, negligible differences.
Both these hybrids are born with the potential to grow a mane.
Male ligers may or may not grow a mane in their lifetime, depending on their gene structure, whereas male tigons almost always grow a mane. Another aspect is the bite force, which ligers have much more than tigons due to the large size of their heads.
Are ligers and tigons hybrid animals?
Hybrid animals are a cross between two different species within the same genus. This results in the offspring having 50% of genes from each parent species.
The parent species, lions and tigers, belong to the Panthera genus.
Therefore, whether it is a male lion and a tigress or a male tiger and a lioness, the offspring which is birthed by the mother will be a crossbreed, given it also belongs to the same genus, being bred from parents of different species, making it a part of the cat family.
Can a liger and tigon reproduce?
Only females are genetically capable of reproduction and hence are fertile because males are sterile, making it impossible for them to reproduce among themselves.
However, since female ligers and tigons do have the capability to reproduce, mating with male lions and tigers is possible for them.
The attempt at mating has been successful, giving birth to what is called a second-generation hybrid between the species.
A cross between a lion and a female tigon is called a litigon, between a lion and a female liger is called a liliger, between a tigon and female lion is called a titigon, and between a tiger and female liger is called a tiliger.
These second-generation hybrids are extremely rare, and only a handful exist on the entire planet.
Some consider this breed against nature since naturally, the animal would never breed among themselves in the wild and stay within their own species, which is why this breeding happens in zoos.
It is quite hard for cubs to even survive due to genetic deformities, and most do not live to become adults.
How much bigger is a liger than a tigon?
Among the two, ligers are noticeably larger, even if compared to any of its parents. This happens because ligers do not possess the growth limiting gene, which usually is present in the female lion, which is the reason why they continue to grow for their entire life.
However, that is not the case with tigons. They are usually much smaller than ligers in size and weigh less.
It is normal for ligers' growth to be anywhere between 9.8-11.8 ft (2.98-3.59 m) in length and to weigh as much as 900 lb (408kg) due to genetic variation among the species. These hybrids are born quite large in size compared to regular cubs.
The heaviest among them, named Hercules, holds a record for the heaviest non-obese cat in the world, weighing a little over 922 lb (418 kg). Although if struck with obesity, they can go over 1200 lb (544 kg).
It is not the same with tigons.
The maximum they can grow up to is the size of their parents, depending on the dominant genes. History suggests that the maximum they can grow up to is 9 ft (2.74 m) long throughout their entire life and weigh between 200-500 lb (90-226 kg), due to which this animal is bred only under captivity in zoos.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for liger vs tigon big cat smack down, then why not take a look at can chickens eat potatoes, or can cats have peanut butter.
We Want Your Photos!
More for You
See All
Bachelor of Arts and Law specializing in Political Science and Intellectual Property Rights
Anusuya MukherjeeBachelor of Arts and Law specializing in Political Science and Intellectual Property Rights
With a wealth of international experience spanning Europe, Africa, North America, and the Middle East, Anusuya brings a unique perspective to her work as a Content Assistant and Content Updating Coordinator. She holds a law degree from India and has practiced law in India and Kuwait. Anusuya is a fan of rap music and enjoys a good cup of coffee in her free time. Currently, she is working on her novel, "Mr. Ivory Merchant".
Disclaimer
1) Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the Buy Now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published but we cannot guarantee that on the time of reading. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
2) At Kidadl, we strive to recommend the very best activities and events. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
3) Because we are an educational resource, we have quotes and facts about a range of historical and modern figures. We do not endorse the actions of or rhetoric of all the people included in these collections, but we think they are important for growing minds to learn about under the guidance of parents or guardians.
