Tigers are the largest species in the feline family, and they are easily identified by their orange and black striped fur. Like zebras, tiger stripes are unique to each individual. 

These big cats are solitary species and stealthy in their movements, and their vocalizations can be rare to hear. As a result, a lot of people have no definite answer about do tigers roar.

So, let us take a look at what the actual picture is in this regard.

Like other big cats, tigers do roar, and according to animal experts, the roar is so strong that it can paralyze the animal that hears it. Tigers usually roar at other tigers, and the peak power was measured at around 300 hertz. However, tigers can also roar in a frequency of sound that is less than 20 hertz, which falls in the category of infra-sound. Tiger roar sounds can travel distances of about 2 miles.

Why Do Tigers Roar?

At first, it was thought that tigers roar at other animals. However, further studies have shown that the roar is directed towards another tiger. Let us explore further the three main reasons why tigers roar.

Attention Roar

One reason a tiger will roar is to attract attention. For example, a female tiger will roar at her cubs. When cubs are born, they remain with their mother for a period of between 2-3 years. 

During the first 6-11 months of life, the mother will train them to hunt, as this is very crucial to their survival. One roar may be used to ensure that the cubs follow the mother’s directions. 

Another type of roar may be used to encourage the cubs to try something new. By the time tiger cubs reach 18 months, they are fully independent.

Territorial Roar

Another reason tigers would want to attract attention by roaring is to identify themselves to other tigers in the area. This is especially crucial when it comes to territories. 

Adult male tigers mark out territory for themselves depending on the availability of prey. In such an instance, a roar will not only identify one tiger to another but also tell their exact location. 

Tigers are solitary and generally avoid unnecessary conflict, preferring to ‘warn’ or ‘scare off’ other tigers. Watering points may be a shared resource, and an identifying roar may grant a tiger safe passage across another’s territory to water.

Threatening Roar

Tigers will also roar when they find themselves in hostile or threatening situations. One of these instances could be when a territorial conflict occurs between two tigers. These conflicts can be quite vicious and often will result in serious injury or even death. 

Another situation a tiger will roar would be when faced with a threatening situation. Tigers are unfortunately still hunted as trophies. In such instances, when faced with the hunter’s threat, they will roar to put off the hunter. 

Although rare, other large animals like elephants and bears may pose a threat to tigers, in case they are weak, due to sickness or malnourishment.

Read Also: How Do Tigers Protect Themselves?

Tiger Roar vs Lion Roar

There are different ways of measuring the roar of an animal. Both the lions’ and the tigers’ roars are pretty loud; 110 – 114 dB, similar to the sound of an ambulance siren. Other sources indicate that this volume is similar to being in the gallery section at a rock concert.

The roar of a lion resonates between 40 and 200 hertz, while a tiger’s roar falls between 83 and 246 hertz. For comparison, the vocal vibrations of adult human males typically span from 100 to 120 hertz, and females’ range from 200 to 250 hertz. Consequently, a lion’s roar tends to sound deeper than that of a tiger.

Additionally, a lion’s roar can be heard over a distance of 5 miles (8 km). A tiger’s roar in comparison carries over a distance of about 2 miles (3 km). However, a question would be raised as to whether these measurements are influenced by each of the species habitats, considering that lions live in more open spaces than tigers.

Finally, tigers will roar in general only out of necessity, their roar is a tool of communication, but considering their solitary lifestyle it is not as often heard. Lions, on the other hand, do much of their roaring as a function of their social structures, engaging in morning and evening ‘caroling’ seasons.

Do Tigers Roar Louder Than Lions?

The question of which roar is louder, lions’ or tigers’ is debatable. This is because both animals will emit roars reaching as high as 110 – 114 decibels. So, we can safely say that their roars are just about the same. The loudest roar that a tiger can emit is known as the “true” roar, using the hyoid apparatus, and when it opens its mouth to its widest position, with its canines fully exposed.

Compared to other felines, the roar of the tiger and lion is attributed to the shape of their vocal cords. The other name of the vocal cord is the vocal fold. Among tigers and lions, the vocal fold is different from the rest of the species.

Most other felines have triangular-shaped vocal folds, whereas the lion and the tiger have square-shaped vocal folds. This structure enables them to increase the volume of the roar without exerting additional pressure on the lungs.

The ability to roar is what sets “big cats” apart from other cats. There are 38 cat species on the planet, but only the big four have the ability to produce roaring sounds, which places them apart from all other felines.

Summing Up

Here you have it, the answer to the question ‘Do tigers roar’ is yes, although rarely heard. A tiger’s roar varies in volume and length, and at times, it will emit a series of roars in intervals. The messages communicated within these parameters are easily understood among tigers, but these roars also serve as a communication between tigers, and occasionally the roar is instructed to other animals.

An interesting thing about a tiger’s roar is that humans may feel the roar but not completely hear it. An average human can hear a sound that is in the frequency range of 20 – 20,000 hertz.

Scientists strongly believe that infrasound is the missing link that is crucial for fully understanding tiger communication.

Thank you for reading. If you liked this tiger article, I would like to recommend you another similar read – Are Tigers Friendly?

Sources:

https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/did-you-know-this-about-tigers/

https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn3680-tigers-use-infrasound-to-warn-off-rivals/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger