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Why does a Siberian tiger have thicker and paler fur than other tigers?

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A Bengal tiger with orange fur and black stripes lies on the ground, facing forward with its front legs crossed. — tiger The forests of West Bengal are inhabited by the endangered Bengal tiger (*Panthera tigris tigris*).

The Siberian tiger, also known as the Amur tiger, possesses thicker fur as an adaptation to the cold-climate taiga and boreal forests of far-eastern Russia and northeastern China. This dense, coarse coat, combined with a layer of body fat, provides essential insulation against snow and freezing temperatures.12

Regarding its coloration, the Siberian tiger is characterized by a "muted" or paler orange coat compared to other subspecies. This lighter pigmentation is a natural variation suited to its environment, distinct from the rare leucism mutation that produces the entirely white fur seen in some white tigers. While the Siberian tiger's coat is paler than that of the Bengal tiger, it remains a functional adaptation for its specific habitat rather than a result of the genetic pigment reduction found in white-furred variants.231