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

[peter]

(12-31-2017, 02:42 AM)Greatearth Wrote: peter

Is it skin is longer than animal when it was alive? 
I remember you wrote Pollock recorded this tiger from Manas river was 403, 87 cm. I personally don't believe any Felidae today could grow more than 400 cm length. Or may have been error in measurement? 
If animal was robust or fat (after he eat so much), then skin could be large in term of width.

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

First things first.

There was a hunter called A. Pollock and there was Col. Pollok. 

A. Pollock hunted in southern India and measured tigers 'between pegs'. Col. Pollok hunted in Burma and Assam. I don't know what method he used, but I do know that co-writer W.S. Thom (see the scan below) measured tigers 'between pegs'. For now, I assume that Col. Pollok also measured tigers in that way. The tigers mentioned in the book (see the scan below) were shot between 1853-1869.

Here's Col. Pollok: 

*This image is copyright of its original author

The longest tiger shot by Col. Pollok was 10.2 (309,88 cm.) in total length. He also shot a tiger of 10.1 (307,34 cm.). I'm not sure, but my guess is that the enormous skin was from the second tiger. Here's why: 

*This image is copyright of its original author

Over the years, I read a number of books about Assam tigers shot in the period 1870-1960. The Maharajah of Cooch Behar was one of the few who measured and weighed the animals shot by him and his guests. Although only few males got to 550 pounds (249,48 kg.), the averages were quite impressive. Still unsurpassed, I think.

Assam tigers were robust animals. In total length, however, they more or less compared to tigers shot in the Central provinces. In Assam, most tigers were measured 'over curves' in those days. Males shot in the period 1870-1910 averaged about 9.8 in total length, whereas males shot in the Central provinces averaged 9.3 'between pegs' in the Central Provinces (tigers shot in the Central Provinces were measured 'between pegs' as a rule). As the difference between both methods was about 13,5 cm. in Assam (10 males), one could conclude that male tigers in Assam and the Central Provinces more or less compared in total length. Males shot in the Central Provinces, however, averaged 420 pounds, whereas males shot in Assam averaged 461 pounds. Based on what I have, I'd say they also were larger-skulled.

Although they were a bit bigger than tigers shot in the Central Provinces, the Central Provinces produced more exceptions. I have reliable information about males well exceeding 10 feet in total length measured 'between pegs', whereas males exceeding that mark in Assam seem to be few and far between. Reply