Skulls, Skeletons, Canines & Claws

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(12-31-2017, 03:00 AM)Pckts Wrote:

(12-31-2017, 12:51 AM)GrizzlyClaws Wrote: @Pckts

The tiger is the only big cat species who possesses this morphological trait that differed from other pantherine members.

Maybe it has to do with the evolutionary trait, since the tiger is a pantherine cat who was purely originated in Asia, while the lion-leopard-jaguar group's ultimate origin was always in Africa. Since their common ancestor was evolved in the vast savanna in Africa, so the sense of smell might play a bigger role.

But even so, you would think that an Indian or Amur Leopards would show the same evolutionary traits since they have inhabited the same territories as the tiger for long enough to show convergent evolution.
I wonder if said sub species differ in the nasal and canine department compared to their African counterparts. I'd specifically be interested in Asiatic Lions and Sri Lankan Leopards as well.

Normally the nasal opening would broaden if they were in a high-altitude area (more oxygen needed), and Nepal and west China is a very great example of this. It shows in the giant nasal area of the Snow Leopard. Nepal is a pretty frigid and open area too, so humidity is easily solidified.

But I don't know why the tigers' nasal openings are less broad relative to other cats openings. Tigers (with the exception of Nepalese ones) mainly live in mid-to-low altitude, closed-space areas with plenty of moisture (forests, marshes, etc) while lions live in open areas of less moisture (dry rocklands, deserts, grasslands) and they might need wider nasal openings to counteract their environment.

Maybe with more moisture, the senses are less needed (since wet things permeate more than dry things), and the nasal opening decreases and vice-versa? I don't know, just my two cents. Reply