ON THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION - A - THE TIGER (Panthera tigris)

[peter]

Yes, the skull is very smooth, well-developed, muscular and robust. This points towards a wild male tiger. The owner was adult, as the sutures are completely closed. The undamaged teeth seem to have lost the massiveness typical for a prime animal. Although still large, the size of the upper canines is not as striking as in many Sumatran skulls. This most probably also means the skull is quite large. Judging from the well-developed sagittal crest, I'd say he was past his prime. Mandibula straight, but the tip is reinforced. This again points towards use and age.

Compared to the length, the zygomata seem relatively very wide and massive. Not typical for Russia. Occiput quite wide and rounded, which means Bali and Java can be excluded. As Sumatran tiger skulls often are a bit flatter in the anterior part, I'd would exclude them as well. That leaves the Caspian region, China, southeast Asia, India and Nepal.

Caspian region first. The profile of the sagittal crest of quite many Caspian skulls often is slightly convex. As the crest in the photograph you posted is straight, we can exclude the Caspian region. Tiger skulls from (central and southern) China only seldom reach 350 mm. in greatest total length. Even when they do, they often lack the robustness and the width typical for, say, India. According to V. Mazak, skulls of Panthera tigris corbetti are quite similar to Indian tiger skulls. They are, however, smaller. The occiput also is a bit more rounded and relatively wider, especially in the middle part. As a result of the smaller size, they also often are less robust.  
 
That leaves India, Nepal and Russia. Russia is possible, but Amur skulls often are dominated by an elevated and quite long face, (greatest total) length and (very long and straight) canines, not width. Based on the width of the zygomata and the vaulted profile, I'd go for India or Nepal. The problem is the sagittal crest in the skull in the photograph is straight, whereas many skulls of wild male Indian tigers show a concave profile.

This is a skull from Nepal. The occiput is clearly lifted, resulting in a, quite typical, concave profile:

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This is a skull from Assam. A bit shorter, but more massive. The sagittal crest starts directly after the os frontalis and is nearly completely straight. Occiput slightly lifted, but not to the degree seen in the Nepal skull (see above). Canines slightly shorter, but more robust:

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This is the photograph you posted:

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This is the largest Amur skull V. Mazak saw (383 mm. in greatest total length). The skull is from the northeastern part of China (Manchuria). Watch the sagittal crest and the shape of the anterior part of the skull:

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Male Amur tiger Chanwangshai (also Manchuria). Very similar in alle respects: 

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Skull of a poached wild male Amur tiger. Elevated, long and very large upper canines:

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Captive male Amur tiger. Elevated, long and very large upper canines. Not very wide:

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The second drawing from V. Mazak (Assam) seems to be quite close to the photograph you posted. Northeastern India, that is. But tigers in the northwestern part of Burma (Myanmar) might have a similar skull and they too can reach a large size. I'm not completely excluding Manchuria or northern China, though.

This is the skull of a wild male Indian tiger posted before. One of the best I saw. Could have been from northeastern India. Remember the occiput was destroyed and repaired later. The reconstruction wasn't, ehhh, a complete success. Based on the condylobasal length, I'd say the skull was over 360 mm. in greatest total length. Zygomatic width over 260 mm. Not as long as the male Amur skull above, but more robust and heavier. Upper canines a bit shorter and not as straight, but as robust, if not more so: 

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This is the skull of a captive male Indian tiger. Similar in many ways, but shorter and not as well developed. The skull belonged to an old zoo tiger:

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Captive male Sumatran tiger. A bit like a captive male Amur tiger (long-faced, quite flat and very long canines), but smaller all the way:

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Wild male Javan tiger. Skulls of Javan and Indian tigers are quite similar in many ways. Profile more vaulted than in Sumatran tiger skulls. Upper canines a tad shorter, but more robust and more curved:

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Wild male lion (top) and captive male Amur tiger (bottom) of similar length. Anterior part in the lion skull (face) relatively very long. Mandibula also relatively very long. Molars longer and a bit bigger. Amur tigers could have the longest face of all tiger subspecies, but it's still shorter than in most lion skulls (only very seldom, if ever, over 50% of the total skull length). Upper canines very long and not as curved as in many other tiger subspecies:

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Wild male Indian tiger (left) and wild male Indian lion (right). Indian tigers have shorter faces than Amur tigers. Upper skull profile more vaulted. Upper canines a bit shorter and more curved. This Indian lion had a nearly straight mandibula, but the tip is longer and more curved. Mandibula also is quite a bit longer longer. Face longer, straighter and more square (right angles). Slope of the posterior part of the skull more pronounced. In lion skull, the condylae often (almost) touch the surface. Axis of vision straight or slightly upward:

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Notice the lion, although roughly similar in size (greatest total length) has a longer mandibula and a longer face in both cases.

Any details known about the skull you posted? Reply