*This image is copyright of its original author

(11-09-2017, 01:27 AM)Ngala Wrote: What a difference!!!

From Onçafari Jaguar Project:
"Fera and Brutus taking a walk around Refúgio Ecológico Caiman. It’s not uncommon to see jaguar couples around here. We wish you all a great Sunday ! Photo: Cynthia Lebrão"

*This image is copyright of its original author

(11-09-2017, 04:47 AM)Michael Wrote:

(11-09-2017, 01:27 AM)Ngala Wrote: What a difference!!!

From Onçafari Jaguar Project:
"Fera and Brutus taking a walk around Refúgio Ecológico Caiman. It’s not uncommon to see jaguar couples around here. We wish you all a great Sunday ! Photo: Cynthia Lebrão"

*This image is copyright of its original author

In which species is there a bigger size/weight difference between male and female specimens, leopard or jaguar ? Seems like the leopard is the species with the biggest difference but no idea why they evolved this way

And why is the difference so big in these two species and not in lions, cheetah and tigers ?

I guess lions don't need it because they evolved within a coalition system so male lions don't need to be that much bigger then females numbers matter more ?

In the case of the tiger I have no idea they occupy the same niche as the leopard and jaguar so I don't know why there isn't the same difference between males and females

(11-09-2017, 05:01 AM)Pckts Wrote:

(11-09-2017, 04:47 AM)Michael Wrote:

(11-09-2017, 01:27 AM)Ngala Wrote: What a difference!!!

From Onçafari Jaguar Project:
"Fera and Brutus taking a walk around Refúgio Ecológico Caiman. It’s not uncommon to see jaguar couples around here. We wish you all a great Sunday ! Photo: Cynthia Lebrão"

*This image is copyright of its original author

In which species is there a bigger size/weight difference between male and female specimens, leopard or jaguar ? Seems like the leopard is the species with the biggest difference but no idea why they evolved this way

And why is the difference so big in these two species and not in lions, cheetah and tigers ?

I guess lions don't need it because they evolved within a coalition system so male lions don't need to be that much bigger then females numbers matter more ?

In the case of the tiger I have no idea they occupy the same niche as the leopard and jaguar so I don't know why there isn't the same difference between males and females

All big 4 show similar sexual dimorphism.



(Females)               (Males)
80kg-170kg       170kg-272kg     = Lions and Tigers
40kg-100kg       60kg - 150kg     = Jaguars
30kg-60kg         40kg - 115kg     = Leopards

Depending on the subspecies and location of course.

Just to elaborate a bit further, Big Cats are like people, they come in all shapes and sizes. Some are much larger or smaller than others, so sometimes you'll see a large female with a small male or vice versa and it may give you a false sense of individual size. I generally try to avoid coming to conclusions on individual size unless I'm familiar with the female and/or male.

(11-09-2017, 07:02 AM)Michael Wrote:

(11-09-2017, 05:01 AM)Pckts Wrote:

(11-09-2017, 04:47 AM)Michael Wrote:

(11-09-2017, 01:27 AM)Ngala Wrote: What a difference!!!

From Onçafari Jaguar Project:
"Fera and Brutus taking a walk around Refúgio Ecológico Caiman. It’s not uncommon to see jaguar couples around here. We wish you all a great Sunday ! Photo: Cynthia Lebrão"

*This image is copyright of its original author

In which species is there a bigger size/weight difference between male and female specimens, leopard or jaguar ? Seems like the leopard is the species with the biggest difference but no idea why they evolved this way

And why is the difference so big in these two species and not in lions, cheetah and tigers ?

I guess lions don't need it because they evolved within a coalition system so male lions don't need to be that much bigger then females numbers matter more ?

In the case of the tiger I have no idea they occupy the same niche as the leopard and jaguar so I don't know why there isn't the same difference between males and females

All big 4 show similar sexual dimorphism.



(Females)               (Males)
80kg-170kg       170kg-272kg     = Lions and Tigers
40kg-100kg       60kg - 150kg     = Jaguars
30kg-60kg         40kg - 115kg     = Leopards

Depending on the subspecies and location of course.

Just to elaborate a bit further, Big Cats are like people, they come in all shapes and sizes. Some are much larger or smaller than others, so sometimes you'll see a large female with a small male or vice versa and it may give you a false sense of individual size. I generally try to avoid coming to conclusions on individual size unless I'm familiar with the female and/or male.

Wouldn't it be better to use average weights in this case, you want to know in average how much difference in weight there is between male and female because the average represents a lot more individuals than both ends of the spectrum.