I have researched this because that's the classic question - who would win, lion or tiger? And in every video and situation I have seen, the tiger is bigger, more agile, MEANER looking, and more intemidating. It looks as though the lion knows the tiger is the ultimate in the cat family. I mean, I know it would depend on which individual tiger and lion we are talking about, but I am speaking to average males. And please don't quote the discovery channel animal challenge thing because that's totally hypothetical from what some overweight producer's kid told him - I was really disappointed with the excuse that a TIGER would not be able to bite through a mane of fur??? (Man, that is weak...)
2007-05-27 13:49:12 · 6 answers · asked by lendermonster 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
You do not need belief, as the evidence is on your side. In every documented fight between a male tiger and male lion, the tiger has been victorious. You are correct about the mane, also. It was thought to afford protection at one time, but that hypothesis was dispelled when it was found that lions attack on the flank and not at the throat. It was tested out as a sexual selection trait and it was shown that females preferred males with the best mane. So, it is s sexual selection characteristic.
2007-05-27 17:25:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you were to put them in a cage and take away the ability to hide, stalk etc... overall I would honestly have to say lion. However not by much.
For the most part (depending on the species) tigers do tend to be a bit larger so they would have a bit of an upper hand on that page.
But... look at the lives the two lead.
Lions are a pride animal where tigers are not. Male lions are used to fighting aggressive males for dominance on a regular basis where tigers tend to only run into other males by chance during breeding.
Look at the prey they hunt.... though lions tend to hunt in prides they are used to trying to take down much larger prey (elephant, rhino, buffalo, giraffe) than tigers so they are far used to dealing with larger fights.
More or less, tigers might be a bit stronger and larger but lions have the experience when it comes to fighting.
As far as the not being able to bite through the mane or fur... it is bull, the hide of the two cats are the same. To the one who wondered about the lion and the grizzly, it would probably be the grizzly... one swipe of the paw could kill the lion. Even if it didnt kill the lion but was a good hit chances are the lion would not be able to fight back. For the lion to win it would have to be able to attack first... if he got on the bears back the bear would have no chance. Probably the same with the throat.
2007-05-27 15:55:45 · answer #2 · answered by The Cheshire 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yet that is what the mane is for. The two are really pretty evenly matched but I really do not care one way or the other. Believe what you want. Any ideas presented here will be hypothetical. There is no way around that unless you really want to go the the expense of buying a tip top shape lion and tiger to duke it out.
In other words, this question has gotten old fast and is getting older.
2007-05-27 15:58:21 · answer #3 · answered by Jeff Sadler 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I agree with you. In male tigers, they hunt. The male lions...they really don't. The lionesses are the hunters of the pride. The male tiger is also bigger.
2007-05-27 16:11:36 · answer #4 · answered by Carrie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have no idea but I have always wondered about a fight between a male lion and a grizzley bear.
2007-05-27 15:07:23 · answer #5 · answered by mleaky2000 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, siberian tigers are much bigger, faster and stronger
2007-05-27 13:54:08 · answer #6 · answered by ghulk81 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋