Does anyone have any information about Siberian Tigers?

How long is the Siberian Tiger's Winter Pelage?

• I read on the internet that a Siberian Tiger’s fur is approximately 21” long during winter seasons - 3“ short of 2 ft! Knowing that you cannot trust everything that is submitted online, I can’t help but wonder where this estimation was attained. Is there a factual, published source in circulation detailing this as an average fur-length for Siberian Tigers, or is it mere speculation born and sustained via the internet? According to every well-researched book I have read, during the winter, the Amur’s pelage averages 2” at the back and nape, with a length of 2-4.5 inches at the cheeks, throat, chest and belly, accompanied by as much as 2“ of fat lining the torso and abdomen. If the Tiger could sustain fur 21” long, it is doubtful that this length would exist throughout the felid’s entire frame. A Lion’s mane, for example, is 6-12” long (though much longer has been recorded). I have never seen a Tiger with an entire body covered in fur the width of a Lion’s mane - honestly, I think it would look like one giant puff-ball! One might suggest that the Siberian Tiger’s fur is 21” long at the belly - but at such a length, it would drag constantly on the ground - I have never witnessed this occurring, wherever the Siberian Tiger is concerned. It may be alleged that fur 21” long is located around the nape and throat - but this would tender onto the Siberian Tiger a very Lion-like appearance. The only Tiger to habitually harbor fur around the head and belly similar to that of any Lion (specifically, the Barbary Lion) was the Caspian Tiger - despite this, even the Caspian Tiger’s fur never attained such massive proportions as the Barbary Lion’s mane. I would really appreciate an answer to this question. Please do not present input derived from public forums, like AllExperts. Anyone with a computer can volunteer to AllExperts, and despite the domain’s name, not everyone attending AllExperts is qualified in the field they have volunteered for. As consequence, I’ve seen some pretty bizarre answers (and poor grammar) crop up from certain individuals attending AllExperts. I am looking for a SCIENTIFIC, PUBLISHED reference, so please do not submit web-links (such as Angelfire, Wikipedia, Lairwebs, Seattletimes, etc…) They are the origin of the fable, and therefore do not represent a viable answer. This question is really a stab in the dark - maybe someone has actually read the ‘21” long fur” phrase in a book - if you have, please post a direct quote with its page# here, along with the narrative’s title, author, publisher, and date of publication, so that I can confirm its existence. If not, I will have to regard it as a false myth. Many Thanks.

• Answer:

  No Siberian tiger in this world has a coat that measure twenty one inches. That's insane. The fur indeed grows a little during the winter time and becomes lighter in color, but it's typically just a couple of inches thick. The fur that composes the facial ruff is exceptionally larger tough.