ON THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION - A - THE TIGER (Panthera tigris)

[peter]

Excellent work, Grizzly. As to the questions of Apollo on size:  


1 - Skulls  

Skulls of Javan tigers are a bit longer than those of Sumatran tigers. In females the difference is very limited, but in males it's over 10 mm. The largest skull, however, was a Sumatran tiger skull. Skulls of male Sumatran tigers also show distinctly more variation in size. 

Although some skulls of male Sumatran tigers are almost similar to a typical skull of a male Javan tiger, skulls of Javan tigers are generally more vaulted. Furthermore, many have a quite concave mandibula. In Sumatran tiger skulls, mandibulas can be straight or even slightly convex. In Javan tiger skulls, the occiput is constricted. This is not seen in other subspecies. In some skulls of male Gir lions, however, the occiput also is a bit constricted.

Although skulls of Javan tigers are different from skulls of other tiger subspecies, skulls of Indian tigers are quite close in many ways. In both subspecies, the skull quite often is rounded and vaulted.

Skulls of tigresses are smaller all the way. Not seldom, the sagittal crest is hardly developed. Although there are distinct differences between skulls of different subspecies, they are not as pronounced as in skulls of male tigers.


2 - Length and weight       

I have some measurements of Sumatran tigers measured 'between pegs'. From memory, six Sumatran males averaged 236-237 cm. (about 7.9) in total length. Based on what I have, my guess is Javan males could have been a bit longer. How much longer is anybody's guess. I'm not sure, but my guess is Sumatran tigers showed more individual variation.

Sumatran males (sample < 10) averaged 115-120 kg., but the range is impressive. Tiger 'Slamet', recently weighed, was just over 148 kg. (about 327 pounds), but a tiger shot on a plantation between 1930-1940 seemed heavier and I found more information about large male Sumatran tigers shot between 1900-1940. In general, Sumatran male tigers seem quite stocky and robust, more so than tigers in the southern part of Malaysia.

Most photographs of Javan tigers I saw suggest they could have been a bit taller and longer, but not more robust. One male was 141 kg., but that's all we have so far. 

As to why Javan tigers were quite different from Sumatran tigers. One reason could be genetics. Another could be habitat. Sumatran tigers live in dense tropical forests, whereas Javan tigers lived in more open forests. A third reason could have been humans. In Java, they already were on their way out at the end of the 20th century. In Sumatra, the pressure was much less intense.          


3 - Sumatran and Javan tiger compared - photographs

a - Eastern Java, 1938 (Hoogerwerf):

*This image is copyright of its original author

b - Western Java, female (1941):

*This image is copyright of its original author

c - Central Java (not sure), male - first posted by Phatio:

*This image is copyright of its original author

d - Sumatran tiger 'Slamet' (just over 148 kg.):

*This image is copyright of its original author

e - Although well over 9 feet 'over curves', this male wasn't the longest. He could have been the heaviest, though. Shot on a plantation where he had killed and eaten a male sun bear some time before he was shot. Although loaded, it was a robust male tiger:

*This image is copyright of its original author

f - Same hunter, different tiger (Lampung, 1941):

*This image is copyright of its original author

 

g - Notorious man-eater. From memory, he had killed and eaten at least 69 people. One possible reason he hunted humans was a disability. The tiger was nicknamed 'De Kreupele' (kreupel refers to crippled). Although the angle definitely had an effect, the old man-eater had a large skull:

*This image is copyright of its original author

h - Recent photograph:

*This image is copyright of its original author

4 - Tables

I went over everything I have on Sumatran, Javan and Bali tigers (skulls, measurements and weights) some time ago. I didn't have the opportunity to do the tables, but I will as soon as I can. In the skull tables, I'll distinguish between young adults, mature animals and old tigers. The differences are remarkable. Reply