Litigon

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Litigon
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Panthera
Species: (Panthera tigris × Panthera leo)♀ × Panthera leo♂

A litigon is a rare second generation hybrid from a female tigon (a hybrid between a male tiger and a female lion) and a male lion, specifically an Asiatic lion.[1]

History[edit]

The first result was a success, a female cub was born at the Alipore Zoo in Calcutta, India. At the Alipore Zoo in India, a female tigon named Rudrani, born in 1971, was successfully mated to an Asiatic Lion named Debabrata. The rare, second generation hybrid was called a litigon (/ˌlaɪˈtaɪɡən/). Rudhrani produced seven litigons. Some of these reached impressive sizes—a litigon named Cubanacan (died 1991) was estimated to weigh least 362 kilograms (800 lb), stood 1.32 metres (4.3 ft) at the shoulder, and was 3.5 metres (11 ft) in total length.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Singh, Atiya (25 April 1985). "Okapis and litigons in London and Calcutta". New Scientist (1453): 7.