There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
12-02-2014, 04:21 PM( This post was last modified: 12-02-2014, 04:59 PM by Siegfried )
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It appears that some feel that the Royal Bengal Tiger is THE PURE TIGER...the BIGGEST tiger. The most agile tiger. He is plain old Panthera tigris you know...or sometimes P. tigris tigris to show again, its purity.
No inferior geographical subspecies suffix-attachment to its scientific name...
Others it seems feel that while there are subspecies of tigers, they are all big striped cats that show some geographically based genetic differentiation. Each subspecies has evolved with their habitat at least partially influencing their morphology.
Sumatran tigers are said to be the smallest subspecies. What influences an animals size? Habitat? Territorial range? Prey availability? Prey size? Food intake?
Sumatra is an island. Sumatran tigers try to eek out a living in somewhat densely populated (by humans) areas. Fewer individuals probably reach adulthood. This would affect the any data obtained.
Only in captivity could we truly see that even a well fed healthy adult male Sumatran tiger will not be a "freak specimen" or "monster" tiger. So there are some differences between the subspecies.
If you "buy" Bregmann's rule, and I kinda do..... Amur tigers "should" be the largest tigers, but environmental factors seem to have effected their recorded sizes.
Maybe we should believe the dismissed old hunting stories, because in captivity we see that well fed healthy adult male Amur tigers are generally the largest tigers, and perhaps do deserve the description of "freak" or "monster".
I might as well join the "agility debate." All things being equal... the less bulky cat would be more agile.
Amur and Kaziranga Tigers - Habitat and Prey Analysis
