Panthera tigris virgata

Also known as Turan Tiger, Hyrcanian Tiger, Mazandaran Tiger, Aral Tiger

Caspian tigers once stalked the reed beds and Tugay riverine forests of Central Asia, relying on dense cover along watercourses to ambush wild boars and deer. Distinctive for their bright tawny coats, narrow dark stripes, and remarkably long fur during harsh winters, these solitary big cats adapted to extreme continental temperature swings. Systematic hunting, habitat destruction from river diversion, and eradication of wild prey driven by agricultural expansion led to their extinction by the late twentieth century.