Freak Felids - A Discussion of History's Largest Felines

[GrizzlyClaws]

(06-26-2014, 06:56 AM)'peter' Wrote: Very interesting info on the American lion, Tigerluver. Must have taken a lot of time. My compliments. I have a few questions regarding skulls and estimated weight.

1 - Assuming that CBL is condylobasal length, many skulls, compared to those of today's lions, are very large, if not immense. Anything known on the average difference between CBL and GTL (greatest total length)? If so, was the difference compared to the average difference in skulls of modern lions? 
2 - Anything known on zygomatic width? And the difference between then and now? 
3 - Anything known on the relation between the skull and the other bones? And in modern lions?
4 - Anything known on skull and bone robustness? And compared to modern lions?
5 - Anything known on the bones in the feet?
6 - Would you be able to get to estimates if you would use skulls of modern lions only? And tigers?
7 - In what way did you translate dimorphism into numbers? 

I know answering these questions would involve a lot of time. Don't overdo it. A few short answers would do. I need some indications in order to compare your info with what I found in modern big cats. 

Yes, I have accurate info on skull size, body length and body mass in wild tigers. Not much (a few dozen), but enough to get to  conclusions. I'm working on a number of tables and will post the results when done. Might take a few more months, though.

I found one more on exceptional skulls. This photograph, posted before, was taken in India. Might have been the biggest skull I saw. Note there's no subtle angle resulting in an extra-large skull. This tiger seems to compare to the tiger Raja posted before for skull and rostrum width:

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

 

Here is the second largest American lion skull, it is about 458mm in the greatest length.

However, the canine teeth are hollow, and how woud you perceive its robustness so far?

*This image is copyright of its original author

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