Liger Facts

Yes, liger is for real! Though, ligers only exist in captivity. Ligers happen when a male lion mates with a female tiger. This animal hybrid is recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest living cat on Earth. Ligers belong to the same genus but are of different species. They have some physical characteristics of their father lion and their mother tiger. Even the behavior of ligers is a little bit like lions and little bit like tigers. Ligers, are not to be confused with tiglons. Tiglons (pronounced as tig-lun), is a cross between a male tiger and a female lion. Tiglons were more common than ligers during the late 19th and early 20th century. Tiglons are not as impressive in size compared to ligers, but they do have characteristics of both the species. Another term, you shouldn't be confused about is tigon (not tiglon), which is same as liger. This was some general info on ligers, here are some more facts on ligers.

Physical Characteristics
The liger looks like a giant lion, which has muted stripes similar to tigers. Ligers have a larger body, compared to both its parents. The head of a liger looks more like a lion's head, and the tail is more like that of lion. But, ligers have no trace of a mane. The face of a liger may have rosettes, which are the round marking seen on a leopards body. These marking can be black, dark brown or sandy in color. The background color may be sandy, golden or tawny. And common to tigers, the underparts of ligers are pale.

Liger Behavioral Facts
Ligers inherit behavioral characteristics of lions as well as that of tigers. For example they enjoy swimming, which is a characteristic of tigers. However, they are also very sociable similar to lions. Unlike tiglons, ligers have more chances of living past birth. But, there is a possibility that ligers may inherit health issues of both the species too.

Liger Records

• The history of ligers dates back to early 19th century in India. In 1799, Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire made a color plate painting of the offspring of a lion and tiger.
• During, 1825 an engraving of liger cubs born in the year 1824 were done by G. B. Whittaker.
• During the year 1935, four ligers from two litters were bred in the Zoological Gardens of Bloemfontein, South Africa.
• Today in an interactive park Jungle Island, Miami; there is a liger called Hercules. This liger holds the record of the largest non-obese liger, who is recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest living cat on Earth. Hercules, weighs over 410 kg (904 lb.)
• Another liger is Sinbad, which was shown on National Geographic Channel.

Life Span of Ligers
Nobody knows the exact life span of ligers. A female liger called Shasta, was born at Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City, and died at the age of 24. Another record of a male liger called Nook, who lived in Valley of the Kings animal sanctuary in Wisconsin, died at the age of 21.

Fertility Facts
For a long time both ligers and tiglons animal species were thought to be sterile, however in the year 1943 a fifteen year old hybrid between a lion and an Island tiger, was successfully mated with a lion at the Munich Hellabrunn Zoo. The cub, a female of delicate health was raised to adulthood.

Now, that you have read the above facts on ligers, are you wondering if a white liger or snow white liger exists? Such hybrid animal is not reported yet, but in theory there is a possibility.