The largest of the big cats isn’t the Lion; it’s actually the Siberian Tiger, which measures nearly 11 feet long and weighs around 650 pounds. They live in the forests of eastern Russia, and although endangered, their numbers have stabilized.
The genus Panthera, which includes all the big cats, has a very crowded family tree. It includes lions, leopards, jaguars, and, of course, tigers. But at the roots of that family tree there should be a common ancestor, and scientists have worked hard to find it. DNA mapping shows that the big cats share a common ancestor from about 6 million years ago, and researchers have discovered a big cat skull in Asia that dated to 5.8 million years ago.
These mini Siberian Tigers look ready to pounce. Set them atop birthday cupcakes are place them in wildlife art projects. They’d also make fun giveaways or charms for sports teams.
