Smilodon populator

[tigerluver]

As in the end the goal of these estimations is comparison, here is a comparative look:

Wheeler and Jefferson (2009) tentatively associate 458 mm femur with the 458 mm P. atrox skull. This is a 1:1 GSL:FL ratio. By extension, the 467.5 mm skull has a 467.5 mm femur.

The very large Sabol P. spelaea has a GSL of 437 mm with an average FL of 433 mm, a ratio of 0.99 which shows a rather huge skull for any known cat. By extension, the Chateau skull of 484.5 mm has a FL of 480 mm.

The estimated basal length of the Natodomeri skull hints at a GSL of around 445 mm-450 mm (CBL about 400 mm). If this specimen maintains extant male P. leo proportions then we can use the Mazak et al. (2011) data to extrapolate a FL of 460 mm-470 mm. If it has cave lion-esque proportions then the FL would be a bit less.

The largest Late Pleistocene P. spelaea femur is 470 mm in FL.

The Ngandong tiger femur is 480 mm in FL. Tigers have a bit more volume/weight to femur length due to having a longer torso as compared to femur length (see Christiansen and Adolfssen 2007 and how tigers are longer for their shoulder height). 

GSL = greatest skull length, CBL = condylobasal length, FL = femur length Reply