cnhn
cnhn t1_j9fkfvf wrote
Reply to comment by InfiniteMothman in TIL that ligers (the offspring of a male lion and female tiger) are the largest big cat because, unlike lionesses, female tigers do not possess growth-limiting genes to counter the growth-maximising genes of male lions. by argh-ok
not for panthera.
the male ligers are sterile, the females are fertile
cnhn t1_j9fjp2a wrote
Reply to comment by RAMPAGINGINCOMPETENC in TIL that ligers (the offspring of a male lion and female tiger) are the largest big cat because, unlike lionesses, female tigers do not possess growth-limiting genes to counter the growth-maximising genes of male lions. by argh-ok
despite the repeated assertions that they are sterile, the answer is more complex.
the male hybrid offspring ligers are generally sterile the female ligers are fertile.
so for example a tiliger is the offspring of a male tiger and a female liger.
it seems most of the great cats have some limited interbreeding, so tigers, lions, jaguars, leopards, and snow leopards.
cnhn t1_j9g2l0g wrote
Reply to comment by Remnants in TIL that ligers (the offspring of a male lion and female tiger) are the largest big cat because, unlike lionesses, female tigers do not possess growth-limiting genes to counter the growth-maximising genes of male lions. by argh-ok
if I recall male sterility isn't 100% but I haven't looked at any of the information in a long time.