Are tigers and lions the same?

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Lion vs Tiger: There are many differences between lion and tiger. A list of differences between lion and tiger are given below:

Lion vs Tiger

Tigers and Lions are the most ferocious animals on the earth. They belong to the felidae(cat) family. They are both from the four big cats. These four big cats are Lion, Tiger, Leopard, and Jaguar. These animals reside on the top of the food chain and don't have any predators.

Although Lions and Tigers both come from the cat family and having the same ferocious nature but there are some differences between them.

Appearance:

• Tigers have bold, black stripes across their bodies, on the other hand lions don't have any stripes on their bodies.
• Adult male lions have a large mane around their faces while tigers don't have mane like lions.

Physical Characteristics:

• Tigers are longer, more muscular, and generally heavier in weight than lions, although lions are taller than tigers.
• Tigers are considered more active, aggressive and agile than lions, whereas lions are lazy in a way, and will not do anything unless they really have to.

Hunting Behavior:

• Lions are generally live in groups known as 'pride'. The male lion is the head of the tribe and lives with several female lions and cubs. The female lions bring the prey for the family. They generally hunt their prey in group.
• Tigers prefer to live and hunt on their own. So you can say that lions are more social than tigers.

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A number of key differences distinguish lions and tigers, despite the fact that these big cats have a common ancestor. These differences have fed the fervent debate over which of the two is the ultimate predator for generations, but it’s the similarities between the two animals that have enabled both to establish themselves as the apex predator in their respective parts of the world.

No Natural Predators

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Lions and tigers fear no other animal. They are at the top of their respective food chains and receive almost zero threat from other creatures. While they may face risks to life when hunting, they are never hunted. The only threat to each is the influence of man whether through hunting of the big cat itself or its prey, deforestation and agricultural development leading to fragmentation of habitat.

Almost Equal Size

The tiger is typically the heavier feline of the two. He averages around 500 pounds and his lion cousin weighs in at around 80 pounds less. However, the animals are both approximately around 6 feet tall. The tiger’s superior weight is due to higher muscle mass.

Hoofed Mammal Hunters

Although the method of hunting is one of the key differences between these two cats -- lions hunt in groups and tigers are solitary hunters -- the prey they favor is one of the key similarities between the two. Hoofed mammals are typically the top choice for both lion and tiger. In their respective habitats, tigers hunt deer and buffalo and lions hunt antelope, zebra and wildebeast.

Built for the Hunt

As big cats that have to hunt for their food, both lion and tiger share a number of anatomical features. Both have sharp, retractable claws, both have powerful legs and both have a sharp set of fangs with which to deliver deadly bites to their prey.

Blending in Perfectly

Although they have very different coats, the function of these coats is exactly the same. The lion’s sandy, solid-colored coat performs exactly the same function as the tiger’s stripes -- making each animal practically invisible to its prey until it is too late. Lions live on open plains, and tigers live in the jungle, so each cat’s coat is perfectly adapted to hide them in their natural habitat.

Roar Aggression

Both tigers and lions have a fearsome, menacing roar. The tiger’s roar can be heard up to 2 miles away. The purpose of the roar is the same for both animals. The big cats use their roar to communicate aggression.

References

Photo Credits

• Anup Shah/Photodisc/Getty Images

Writer Bio

Simon Foden has been a freelance writer and editor since 1999. He began his writing career after graduating with a Bachelors of Arts degree in music from Salford University. He has contributed to and written for various magazines including "K9 Magazine" and "Pet Friendly Magazine." He has also written for Dogmagazine.net.

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