Comparing Cats: A Discussion of Similarities & Differences

[SpinoRex]

Forelimb Robusticity (Lion and Tiger) according to the study KILLING BEHAVIOR IN SMILODON FATALIS

*This image is copyright of its original author

Gonyea (1976) determined the robustness of the anterior limb for the felids in a different approach, by plotting the cross-sectional area of the humerus against the length of the latter. He added a regression line for the points of the various taxa and showed that there is a strong correlation (r = 0.958) between these two measurements for the “forest felids”. The data points for the cheetah clearly fall below this regression line, whereas those of Smilodon fall above it.

So basically, Gonyea mentions that humerus length/Log-X Section of humerus concludes overall frontlimb robusticity.



Tigers: 1.19 n=7
Lions: 1.20 n=5

Indicating that these cats must be really close in that regard Reply