Four tribes for new 'Survivor'

The 12th season of Survivor will bow on CBS in the US on February 2, this time starting with four tribes instead of the usual 2.

This season will also feature a more manageable load of 16 contestants, down from a series high of 20 set during the 10th season.

The 16 will be divided by age and gender: older men in one, older women in another, plus their younger counterparts also divided by gender.

By the second episode, the 4 tribes will re-form into the usual 2.

This season's contestants are:

Aras: male; 24; single; Santa Monica, CA
Austin: male; 24; single; High Point, NC
Bobby: male; 32; single; Los Angeles, CA
Bruce: male; 58; married; Simi Valley, CA
Cirie: female; 35; married; Walterboro, SC
Courtney: female; 31; single; Los Angeles, CA
Dan: male; 52; married; South Hadley, MA
Danielle: female; 24; steady relationship; Pompano Beach, FL
Melinda: female; 32; single; Sevierville, TN
Misty: female; 24; single; Dallas, TX
Nick: male; 25; single; Tempe, AZ
Ruth Marie: female; 48; Greenville, SC
Sally: female; 27; dating; Chicago, IL
Shane: male; 35; single; Los Angeles, CA
Terry: male; 46; married; Simsbury, CT
Tina: female; 45; Hayward, WI