Why do ligers often grow to sizes surpassing both parent species?
Answer
They lack the maternal genetic check on growth that inhibits size.
Ligers are massive because the lion father contributes genes that lack the growth-inhibiting factors typically passed down from the mother; since the mother is a tiger, that maternal brake on growth is absent.
Related Questions
What mating combination results in the creation of a liger?What is the name given to the hybrid resulting from a male tiger mating with a female lion?Which statement accurately describes the size status of ligers among known cat species?What primary factor is believed to account for the frequently observed docile temperament in captive ligers?In the wild, how is the typical social structure of a tiger generally described?Why do ligers often grow to sizes surpassing both parent species?What feature might a male liger exhibit due to its lineage, though often less pronounced than in a purebred?What physical trait does a liger typically inherit from its tigress mother?Why are tigons generally smaller than ligers due to genetic inheritance?What is the primary reason the existence of ligers necessitates a captive environment?