The Terai Tiger

[peter]

Interesting thread, Shardul. Very informing posts, PC. I might want to borrow a few maps, PC.

Based on the information on size in the tiger extinction thread (referring to the tables on tigers in northern India and Nepal I recently posted), a case could be made for different regions and different tigers. I would get to southwestern India (a), southeastern and south-central India (b), central and eastern-central India ©, the Terai (d), the Sunderbans (e), northeast India (f) and the extreme east (g).

The longest tigers are those in the Terai (Nepal and northwest India), followed by the Nagarahole tigers and those in the northeast (the far eastern wing of the Terai, but different habitat). The shortest tigers can be found in the Sunderbans, southeastern and south-central India and the extreme east. This also could be the right order for weight, as there is a strong correlation between total length and weight in tigers. Tigers in the northeast and in central India could be a bit more robust and relatively heavier than those in other regions. There is some evidence that the largest skulls are from Terai tigers.

As it is likely that size and habitat are strongly connected, it would be interesting to know more about the typical habitats in the regions mentioned. Some regions seem to have sub-regions. There's no question that Chitawan tigers, in the heart of Nepal and directly south of the Himalayas, are larger than those inhabiting the fringes. One reason could be that Chitawan has been a protected area for quite a long time, meaning tigers (and the animals they prey on) have not been hunted for a long time. Reply