Freak Felids - A Discussion of History's Largest Felines

[peter]

(07-17-2014, 12:39 PM)'tigerluver' Wrote: Major oversight by me, I should've described the robusticity I am analyzing, that's why I need you guys.

My definition of robusticity isn't exactly kg/cm, as allometry makes larger specimens more dense than smaller specimens intrinsically. Therefore, yes, Bengal tigers are the most dense of the subspecies in terms of literal kg/cm. Amurs would follow for second simply due to the fact they are so long, thus isometry is strongly in their favor in terms of raw density. The robusticity I am defining here takes into account isometry and allometry. I'm playing around with three dimensions in a way. Thus, what I am looking for here is what happens if I were to scale a Javan tiger to the frame of the largest Bengal, etc. That is why I use regression to see where a Javan tiger would fall on the growth trend of Bengal tigers. Thus, based on my results, a Javan tiger scaled to the dimension of the largest Bengal tiger would be 14.8% proportionately heavier. For example, a Javan version of Sauraha would be up to 300 kg.

I came to the conclusion of the zygomatic width relation based on my definition of robusticity. I'll label this term "allometric robusticity" for lack of a better phrase. When scaled up to the Bengal's dimension, the South China and Javan tiger were heavier, even though they're skulls would be thinner. 

I hope I cleared that up. This whole concept is a bit difficult for me to put into words, as I don't have exact units to describe what's happening.


 

Let's assume you are invited for a talk about the things you're interested in. Small town local school somewhere in the US. Most of those who paid the $ 5,00 for the two-hour talk (one break and one beer included) are untrained, but not stupid by any means. Let's say experienced hunters. Entertainment is one thing, but they would want you to convince them. Tell 'm what you want to say in a few minutes. You'd have to skip regression, isometry, allometry and everything connected.

Why would an average-sized Sumatran male tiger outrobust an average male Indian tiger if he would have had a similar length, knowing he has relatively smaller dimensions in all departments? And why would he, when he would be similar in length and weight, have a smaller and less robust skull when we know that there is a positive relation between skull size and mass in Indian tigers?

Let's assume I'm in the crowd and responding to your points when you're done.

I'd say I saw a BBC-documentary on Sumatran tigers not so long ago. Wild caught adult 'problem tigers' featured and most were lean, athletic and very aggressive. My guess was not one over 300 lbs. and most well below (males). I know some of the old Dutch hunters could have seen one approaching 400 lbs. after diner, but that was over a century ago when there were thousands of tigers and very few restraints. Today, the biggest males max out at 330 lbs. or just over. At about 5.7 in head and body straight (and 8.0 in total length), that would be well below 1 kg. per cm. (head and body length). Not even close to an average Indian male (relatives).   

Why would they, when upscaled to 9.3 straight and 3.1 at the shoulders standing (a century ago, but today's tigers seem to be longer as well as taller), get to 460-470 lbs. and well over empty when transferred to India? Have a look at the percentages and the relatives (referring to length and weight). Than add the fact that wild Indian tigers are both absolutely and relatively more massive than wild male Amur tigers.

In my opinion, they would need an ungrade in robusticy and the only way to get there would be some experience in wild India. As captive Indian male tigers in Indian zoos average 400-410 lbs., one could say mass has to be a result of the conditions in the reserves. It seems a high density of large prey animals, limited territories and severe competition could be the driving forces. Selection in Indian reserves, therefore, seems to be more severe than in wild Sumatra, where reserves are way larger. 

While waiting for your response, someone in the crowd fancying my chances offers me a second drink. Soda, of course. Reply