Who is the "king" of tigers? - Bengal or Amur

[peter]

(04-22-2014, 03:27 AM)'GuateGojira' Wrote: Oh yes, some captive tigers do have 17 inches skulls, however most of the owners most destroy all bones by law, in order to show that they don't support the illegal trade or just because they don't have space to keep them.

The prey base of the Wanhsien tiger (Panthera tigris acutidens) was most likely that of the modern Bengal tigers, with a large cervid population, wild boar and great bovines like several subspecies of wild buffaloes and gaurs. This prey base was the key for the success of this large tiger that dominated trough several thousands of years and even give origin to modern tigers. Sadly, the Sunda shelf that also supported a great prey base and large tigers, disappeared and the remained islands were too small that the prey base and the tiger size itself diminish.

Peter, I will like to know, based in your experience, if the canines of the Island tigers are longer than that of Mainland, in relation to its overall size. From advance, thanks.
 





 

WHICH CAT HAS THE LONGEST UPPER CANINES?

The best way to get to a conclusion is to compare upper canine length (measured from the gum to the tip in a straight line) to condylobasal length (1) in Amur and island tigers and to compare wild Amurs with wild island tigers (2). This is a problem, because I never saw a wild Amur skull.

However. I saw many captive and wild skulls of island tigers and also measured quite many skulls of mainland tigers. Here's a few conclusions:

1 - There's no question that canines in wild skulls are longer and stronger (thicker at the base) than canines in captive skulls.
2 - Wild Bali tigers have shorter canines than both Java and Sumatra tigers.
3 - Canines in wild Bali tigers almost compare to canines in large jaguar skulls for length, but Bali tigers have a wider rostrum and thicker canines.
4 - Java tigers have slightly longer skulls than Sumatra tigers (in males in particular), but Sumatra tigers have slightly longer canines.
5 - The longest uper canines I saw in a wild male Sumatra tiger were just over 70,00 mm. in a straight line.
6 - Captive Amur skulls have the longest and heaviest upper canines of all big cats.
7 - In relatives (upper canine length to condylobasal length), wild Sumatra tigers could have the longest upper canines.


SOME PHOTOGRAPHS

Don't use the measurements to jump to conclusions, as there is a lot of variation (also within subspecies). Sorry about the differences in range, but every photographer I asked had slightly different ideas. After every weight, I added 'uncleaned' (not defatted) or 'cleaned' (defatted). Makes a difference.


A - WILD MALE LION (greatest total length 384,55 mm. - weight 1,840 kg. uncleaned - upper canines 63,30 and 62,60 mm.)

*This image is copyright of its original author

B - WILD MALE SUMATRAN TIGER (greatest total length 321,72 mm. - weight 1,500 kg. uncleaned - upper canines 65,30 and 65,70 mm.)

*This image is copyright of its original author

C - WILD MALE JAVA TIGER (greatest total length 325,82 mm. - weight 1,602 kg. cleaned - upper canines 62,60 and 62,10 mm.)

*This image is copyright of its original author

D - CAPTIVE MALE AMUR TIGER (greatest total length 368,60 mm. - weight 2,120 kg. uncleaned - upper canines 71,90 - 70,80 m.)

*This image is copyright of its original author

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