Freak Felids - A Discussion of History's Largest Felines

[tigerluver]

Machairodus kabir
Peigne et al. (2005) is the source where the popular estimate for the largest M. kabir of 490 kg was published. This value was derived by relating the functional length to the greatest distal width (107 mm). The length estimate ranged from 380 mm-423 mm depending on the species used. Applying Anyonge's equation to these values resulted in a mass estimate of 350 kg-490 kg, depending on the length estimate used. In my opinion, only the length estimate derived from M. giganteus is valid for this extrapolation, at 417 mm. I also measured the width of the distal articular surface of the humerus:

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Using the length of 417 mm and DAW of 73 mm, the Christiansen and Harris (2005) formulae give an estimate of ((301 kg + 230 kg)/2) 266 kg. Keeping it to the largest of the great cats in his database, the estimate is ((304 kg + 237 kg)/2) 271 kg. Different from Panthera, the articular surface of the distal articulation is a ways smaller than the greatest width of the articulation. The Christiansen specimen are lighter than usual for bone dimensions based on my personal data and a few other papers, so this specimen could be closer to the 300 kg mark. With that, I still don't know where Anyonge pulled his database from, the estimates are just too different. Reply