Smallest tiger subspecies ever

The smallest-ever subspecies of tiger (and also the most brightly coloured and fewest-striped) was the Bali tiger Panthera tigris balica, which was confined to the small Indonesian island of Bali. Males measured approximately 220–230 cm in total length and weighed 90–100 kg; females measured around 190–210 cm and weighed 65–80 kg. These dimensions meant that the Bali tiger was about the same size as a leopard or puma, and smaller than the Sumatran tiger, which is the smallest tiger subspecies still alive today. The last confirmed specimen of Bali tiger was an adult female shot on 27 September 1937.

The Bali tiger was the first tiger subspecies to officially become extinct in modern times. However, although the last confirmed specimen was killed in 1937, unconfirmed reports of tigers on this island continued to emerge for many years afterwards, indicating that it may possibly have survived there undetected by scientific observers until as late as the early 1970s. Hunting and habitat loss were the factors that brought about its extinction, irrespective of the precise date.

Some authorities categorize the Bali tiger as belonging to the Javan tiger subspecies, but this is now extinct too.