Skulls, Skeletons, Canines & Claws

[peter]

PHANTERA

Thanks for the new photographs. Although much better than those in your first post, they're not quite conclusive. Same for the measurements: better than before, but not all measurements were taken in the correct way. Here's a few more requests.

Greatest total length 

1 - If you take a photograph of the complete skull (like the first photograph you posted), the mandibula needs to be attached. It's about the shape of the upper skull and the mandibula. 

2 - The greatest total length is the measurement from the tip of the occiput to the tip of the premaxillary bone (the bone that has the incisors and the upper canines). It's about the length of the bone. This means the incisors have to be excluded from the measurement. When you measure the distance from tip to tip, the mandibula has to be removed. Apart from one exception (see below), you have to remove the mandibula when you take measurements of the upper skull.  

Occiput

3 - All photograph are ok, but we need to see the occiput from behind (a bit like the photograph of the teeth and the rostrum taken from the front).

Height

4 - I'm not sure, but it seems you measured the height of the upper skull only. When you measure the height of a big cat skull, however, the mandibula needs to be attached to the upper skull (the exception to the general rule in measuring big cat skulls).

Weight

5 - I know you don't have the skull, but a cast. In spite of that, my advice is to weigh the skull (upper skull and mandibula separately).  

Conclusions for now

a - As a result of the new photographs you posted, I was able to exclude a number of options. Panthera tigris sondaica (the Javan tiger) is now out. Same for Panthera tigris balica (the Bali tiger) and Panthera tigris sumatrae (the Sumatran tiger). Panthera tigris virgata (the Caspian tiger) and Panthera tigris amoyensis (the Chinese tiger) are out as well. That leaves Panthera tigris tigris (the Indian tiger), Panthera tigris corbetti (the Indochinese tiger) and Panthera tigris altaica (the Amur tiger). 

b - In determining skulls, size is a factor as well. This is the reason you need to measure the greatest total length of the skull in the correct way.  

c - Even when everything needed to get to a decent determination is there, determining the skull of a captive big cat isn't easy. The reason is skulls of captive big cats often quickly lose typical characters. In male skulls, the changes often are quite outspoken. 

Compared to skulls of their wild relatives, skulls of captive big cats are not as elevated at the orbit, wider, flatter and, more often than not, a bit shorter. The upper canines usually are shorter and not as robust. Although skulls of captive big cats often seem more bulky than those of their wild relatives, similar-sized skulls of wild tigers and lions are denser and heavier as a general rule.   

d - This is the reason we need additional information on the history of the owner of the skull. The more we know, the better. Reply