Ligers, believed to be fictional creatures by some, are very real and very rare hybrid species only found in captivity. Ligers are born to a female Tiger (Panthera tigris) mother and a lion (Panthera leo) father. This majestic hybrid beast exhibits physical characteristics of both parents and is likely enact personality traits of both Lions and Tigers. Ligers are one of the unique animals in the world due to the extreme unlikeliness of a female Tiger mating with a male Lion. Ligers are commonly confused with Tigons which are hybrids born when a female lion mates with a male Tiger which is also not found in the wild due to differing social nature of both species.

As majestic as it is grand, the Liger is the biggest cat in the world with the largest extant Liger living at Myrtle Beach Safari in South Carolina. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, “Hercules” is the largest member of his species, and the living cat world, weighing 922 pounds and 10.8 feet long.

The Liger large size is a result of a genetic abnormality known as “growth dysplasia” which is common in hybrids. In short, this condition is caused in hybrids due to absence or abundance of genes that limit or inhibit growth. The large Liger growth is a result of its parents (Mother Tiger and Father Lion) not possessing the limiting growth gene. This limiting growth gene is found in male TIgers and female lions which is why most researchers believe Tigons are on average smaller than their parents exhibiting negative growth dysplasia.