What are common staple prey animals for tigers in their historical wild habitats?
Answer
Sambar deer, chital (spotted deer), wild boar, and water buffalo
In their natural settings, tigers, regardless of coat color, function as apex predators whose diet must provide dense caloric and nutritional content necessary for their massive size. The primary food sources targeted historically included specific ungulates, which are hoofed mammals. These staples commonly featured sambar deer, chital, wild boar, and occasionally larger prey like the water buffalo. These animals offer the high density of protein and fat required to sustain a purely carnivorous lifestyle between successful hunts.

Related Questions
What are common staple prey animals for tigers in their historical wild habitats?How does the recessive gene causing the white coat affect a tiger's essential protein and fat requirements?How much meat might a healthy adult wild tiger consume in a single feeding session?Which specific raw meats are often fed to captive white tigers in zoos or sanctuaries?What crucial nutrients supplied by wild prey parts like organs and bone marrow must be supplemented in a captive diet?What is a common feeding schedule frequency for an adult tiger maintained in captivity?What does it mean for tigers to be classified as obligate carnivores regarding plant matter?What typical location do tigers target to quickly subdue large prey animals during an ambush?What is the primary goal of incorporating enrichment feeding strategies for captive tigers?What specific pigment mechanism is lacking in white tigers, independent of their metabolic genes?