Comparing Cats: A Discussion of Similarities & Differences

[Balam]

To add a few points to these discussion since I've been involved in calculating averages for jaguar populations as well, and something I said in the jaguar thread, is that averages are never written in stone and will always vary according to the sample size one happens to collect or find for it. At one point an average might yield X results, but later new data can be found that can drastically alter said average. That's why I agree with Guate that the mode is a more important factor to consider when looking at weight data because it allows us to see the frequency in which a specific species or population was able to yield a specific weight value at a certain age (assuming the age is included for a decent amount of weights). 

Overall there is no point in obsessing over averages and hope to find the perfect value that will represent a species. Variations among individuals and populations that are affected by external factors across time will inevitably change the average gathered at a different time.

It's best simply to try to get as much data as possible and present an updated and reliable exposition of what the morphology of a specific species/population looks like for readers who are interested to get informed. 

In my personal view, most of the people I have seen who obsess over averages come from animal match up forums who simply want to get a specific value to compare with another animal and then assume the larger will defeat the smaller one. The readership on this forum, however, is more mature and values different things, so it's best not to succumb to external pressures and instead keep providing and collecting as much reliable data as possible for the readers to get access to. Reply