Size of the Ligers
Ligers are the biggest cats living on planet earth. The size of a liger is massively huge. Their weight can easily surpass 1000 pounds. There are many factors which determine the size of a big cat. These factors include their weight, length, their height (from feet to head) and bone structure. So we shall take into account all of these factors for determining the size of the ligers. Ligers can gain a length of 10 to 12 feet very easily. Ligers are two times bigger than lions and tigers. This means that if we combine a weight of a male lion and male tiger combine, a male liger will still be bigger than both the lion and the tiger's aggregate weight. Amur tigers in the wild are considered as largest of all the wild cats in the world. They usually weigh around 600 pounds and the largest one ever recorded was 800 pounds. However; ligers are even bigger than the Amur tigers.f-Share Tweet Linkedin Google+ Pinterest VK
Hercules is the biggest cat on earth as recorded on 2006 Guinness Book of World Records. Ligers can weigh more than 1000 pounds. This above liger weighs around 900 to 1000 pounds. Hercules the liger has four brothers more. This picture specifically posted on ligerworld.com with the permission of its Owner
Normally standing on a ground a liger is as tall as four and a half feet. Tigers and lions do not have that much bigger size. They are usually 3 feet taller. So again if the size measurement is the height of a big cat, ligers still have an edge over lion and tigers. Furthermore; a liger can be as tall as six feet, if one measure them from the head (tip of the ears) to the toe. In our pursuit for finding a the bigger size of a liger in terms of its height, Sinbad the liger was more heighted than any other liger and will most probably be the tallest liger in the world. So if the size measurement is from feet to the head, the size of the liger is still 40% bigger than that of the tiger or lion.f-Share Tweet Linkedin Google+ Pinterest VK
A huge liger weighing more than 900 pounds is jumping over a stool at an annual King Richards' Faire Festival in Miami. Special thanks for its Owner Tevk
If the size parameter is the weight of an animal, then ligers still lead in this regard. Ligers have been reported to be more than 1000 pounds in weight. A liger in the 19th century was believed to be more than 1700 pounds. But this statement cannot be confirmed as there is no picture of that liger. However, a liger in Wisconsin had a weight of 1600 pounds. So in terms of weight as a size parameter for big cats, ligers are still twice heavier than lions and tigers.f-Share Tweet Linkedin Google+ Pinterest VK
Overfeeding of the animal to make him weigh more can be highly dangerous as well. In the 20th century majority of the ligers which died at the young ages were the victims of over-feeding. The trainer wanted them to be bigger therefore; they fed them more than their capacity. The result was a high mortality rates among the liger cubs and young ones. According to Dr. Bhagavan Antle who has an experience of about 30 years with the big cats specifically the ligers, the feeding schedule of the ligers is very important. He said in an interview that a liger is capable of eating 100 pounds in a single sitting but that will make him obese. The most balanced diet for the ligers is around 15 to 25 pounds per day and yet on this diet liger will still be 2 times bigger than lion and tiger.
So the bigger size of the liger is because of its genetics and it is not a product of any overfeeding or artificial process.
Picture of a liger eating meat. A Liger is capable of eating more than 100 pounds in a single sitting. Thanks to the picture owner for sharing this picture on ligerworld.com website. Tevk
Even the head size of the ligers is bigger than that of the tigers and lions. It is 2.5x bigger overall. This means that the size of the ligers is more wider and more longer than that of lions and tigers. This bigger size allows the ligers to exert more bite force of around 1000 pounds, while lions and tigers usually exert a bite force of around 400 pounds at maximum.
The Sun UK. (2010). Monster Liger Loose in London. The SUN UK News Company.