What is the scientific name of the tiger?

The scientific name of the tiger is Panthera tigris.

The name follows biological nomenclature: Panthera is the genus, while tigris identifies the species. The tiger belongs to the family Felidae and shares its genus with the lion, leopard, jaguar, and snow leopard.

Carl Linnaeus originally described the tiger in 1758 as Felis tigris, because Felis was then used broadly for cats. In 1929, zoologist Reginald Innes Pocock placed it in Panthera, producing the modern scientific name.

Panthera onca is the jaguar, Panthera pardus is the leopard, and Panthera leo is the lion. The tiger is native to Asia and is the largest living cat species. Its orange coat and dark stripes vary between individuals, making the pattern useful for identification and camouflage.