A liger (in the photo) is produced by crossing a male lion and a female tiger, while a tigon is, conversely, the offspring of a male tiger and a female lion. These hybrids do not occur in the wild, as lions and tigers inhabit different continents.
Ligers are the largest of the existing cats: adult males can weigh over 400 kg and reach lengths of more than 3.4 meters. Ligers love to swim, having inherited this from their tiger mothers.
Tigons are smaller than ligers, weighing about 180 kg. Their size is limited by the genes of the male tiger. Tigons exhibit a combination of characteristic features: fur with tiger stripes and a less pronounced mane in males. In temperament, tigons are more reserved and tend to be solitary.
Breeding such hybrids raises ethical questions. Although the offspring of ligers and tigons attract attention, they may suffer from serious health issues and have a short lifespan.
Nevertheless, these unique creatures help scientists explore inheritance and conservation issues, reminding us that the existence of such hybrids is primarily a result of human curiosity.
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