1. Wild Ungulates: Wild ungulates, such as deer (including sambar, spotted deer, and barasingha), buffalo (gaur, water buffalo), and wild boar, form a significant part of a tiger's diet. Tigers often target larger prey species to meet their high energy requirements.
2. Cattle and Livestock: In areas where tigers come into contact with human settlements and livestock, they may prey on domestic animals like cows, buffaloes, goats, and sheep. This can lead to conflicts between tigers and humans when livestock are killed.
3. Wild Carnivores: Tigers may occasionally hunt and prey upon other carnivores such as leopards, wolves, and even smaller tigers. This intra-guild predation can influence the population dynamics of these species in tiger habitats.
4. Primates: In certain regions, tigers have been known to hunt and consume primates, including monkeys and langurs. However, primates typically form a small part of a tiger's diet.
5. Birds and Fish: Tigers are not generally considered piscivorous or ornithophagous, but they may opportunistically hunt birds and fish if these are readily available in their habitat.
6. Small Prey: In some cases, tigers may prey on smaller animals such as hares, porcupines, and even insects if larger prey is scarce.
7. Carrion: Tigers are not above scavenging and consuming carrion, especially when prey is limited. They may scavenge on kills made by other predators or feed on carcasses found in the wild.
It is important to note that tigers' prey preferences can vary based on their geographical location and the availability of different prey species. Tigers exhibit a remarkable adaptability in their hunting behaviors and diets, allowing them to survive in diverse ecosystems.