Amur Tigers

[GrizzlyClaws]

(10-14-2016, 06:15 AM)Sabre Wrote: As stated in bergmann rule, animals are living in colder environment is generally larger than warmer environemnt for mammals and birds. About body fat, I read article 10 years ago that Siberian tiger only has 5 cm body fats under their belly due to colder climates they are living in. Their overall body fats are similar as other tiger subspecies(beside belly). Plus, they have a long fur to prevent from coldness along with body fat.
Main sad fact is that the Siberian tiger habitat prey base is extremely low since end of 1990s. The prey base in Russia is not abundant enough for those tigers to realize their full potential(weight and robust). Prey is more scattered and the Russian tigers need huge territories to capture sufficient food, so much more energy is expended in the food quest.

The Bergmann rule only applies when both subspecies have the similar prey base, then the one that lives in the colder climate tends to be larger.

BTW, the Northern Bengal is the most exotic variety, and I am not sure if the captivity does show their presence. They are the largest variety among the Bengal subspecies, just like the Manchurian for the Amur subspecies.

Regardless about the prey base, from the genetic perspective, I think it is legit to say, Amur: Manchurian > Russian > Korean, Bengal: North Indian > Central Indian > South Indian. Reply