The other big cat bred with a tiger to produce a tigon is the lion. More precisely, a tigon is the offspring of a male tiger and a female lion, or lioness.
Tigons inherit visible traits from both parents. They may have a lion-like body, tiger stripes, and sometimes spots or a short mane in males. Unlike the better-known liger—the offspring of a male lion and a female tiger—tigons are generally no larger than either parent. This difference is linked to growth-regulating genes inherited from the lioness and tiger.
Tigons have been bred mainly in captivity, where lions and tigers can be housed together under human control. They are not considered a normal wild species, and confirmed wild-born tigons are not known. Historically, Asiatic lions and tigers had overlapping ranges in parts of Asia, but their habitats and populations are now largely separated.
The hybrids also raise ethical concerns because crossbreeding can produce health problems. Female tigons may be fertile, while male tigons are generally sterile. The name itself combines “tiger” and “lion,” just as “liger” describes the reverse pairing of a lion and a tigress.