Tiger Predation

[Shir Babr]

(08-06-2018, 09:50 AM)Wolverine Wrote: Modern big cats from genus Panthera however haven't so long canine teeth and that's why probably are not capable to kill a rhino or elephant attacking frontal part of their bodies.

It isn't just the size; modern felines have more conical canines, unlike the flattened and even crenulated upper canines of sabretooth cats. Also modern big cats teeth can resist more stress when holding on to struggling prey for longer periods of time.


@Rishi 
I looked for more videos and images of the hamstring technique and also talked about it with a zoologist. My conclusion is that the main purpose of this method of attack is to avoid the prey defenses and destabilize it, not to damage the hamstrings in particular. When targeting the rump, felines bite mostly with their canines; teeth that are made for stabbing and holding, not cutting, so if the main goal was to sever the hamstrings to make the legs give in, using the sharp carnassials would be a better choice for the job. Sometimes you can see they're biting the base of the tail or farther up, so the spine is a target, as in the image bellow. But what probably makes the victim fall is a combination of fatigue from the struggle, the attacker's weight and the loss of balance (combination that might cause shock, blood loss don't seems an issue), not the damage to the muscles or tendons, as evidenced by how many prey fall before the muscles are seriously injured or how such injuries sometimes never even take place during the process. And it seems many buffaloes escape from such attacks without suffering limps or being crippled. But of course, crippling muscle or tendon damage can be possible too, but not as a rule.

*This image is copyright of its original author

In the video from post #1,190, the gaur is already immobilized when the tigress is eating it alive, the gaur doesn't seem to be in pain, as in this other example in 2:19, which means that both animals were in shock or even suffered spinal damage.

This is the complete video of the clip you shared on post #1,330: In 2:27 is clear that the lion is pulling the tail, before the idiots just scared it away making all their efforts useless. 

Another video where three or more lions try the technique and none damages the hamstrings; the buffalo ultimately escapes, and a close up to the targeted area in 7:48 reveals damage to the tail.

My two cents is that pulling successfully a hamstringing on an Indian rhino, that is 2 or more times heavier than big bovines and with thicker skin would be much, much harder if not almost impossible. Reply