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Modern Weights and Measurements of Leopards
Modern Weights and Measurements of Leopards
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Modern Weights and Measurements of Leopards
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Without trying to compete with the excellent infographics of Guate Gojira, Andres Vida and other forum members, I present a comparison between the two leopards with greater total length of which I have news.
We have on the one hand the leopard mentioned by C.A.W.Guggisberg in "Wild cats of the World" and on the other the leopard hunted by Marrs Bowman in 2008. From the first of them, we only have the quote from Guggisberg that I guess comes from another source, we have the data of total length, tail length and weight of the animal. In this quote there are several inconsistencies, on the one hand, the tail is too short for a leopard of those dimensions, most normal would be to measure between 1 and 1.10 m long and on the other hand, we have the weight. If we take into account that 1.91 m is as much or more that is measured by the majority of lions and adult tigers, it would be logical to weigh much more than 150 kg, however, we are told that it weighed 75.7 kg. On the other leopard, we have a photo in which it is attributed a total length of 9 feet and 3 inches (2.82 m), a weight of 190 pounds ( 86.26 Kg) and a skull of 17.5 inches ( something in the order of 10.5 x 7 inches). The alleged measures, if compared with the persons shown in the photo, could be correct. If we assume that Ms.Bowman is 1.65 tall, the head and body of the leopard could be 1.65/1.75 m. The photograph I took as a model for the leopard from Nigeria was that of a leopard from Mole National Park, Ghana, whose tail I shortened to fit the measure provided by Guggisberg, for the leopard from Mount Kitumbeine, I’ve taken a model of Masai Mara. My opinion is that the first of the two is an excessively large animal and in the event that the available measures were correct, it would be a case of gigantism  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
Overall great job with the comparison. However, no leopard measures 1m or even 90cm in height unless it's a maximum-sized male measured with extended paw. The largest males are as tall as the largest male jaguars, that is circa 80cm.
Totally agree, any leopard that reaches a shoulder height of 70 cm is a big leopard, but if the figures of the Guggisberg leopard and the one hunted by M. Bowman were true, that would be the height they would have. Height is not something subjective, it is related to head/body length and total length.
I believe that the Guggisberg figures are not verifiable, we do not know what their source was, at least I do not know, and it is even probable that they were taken on the skin, the fact that the length of the tail and the weight are not concordant gives rise to to think that. As for the data of Marrs Bowman, it would also be difficult to confirm them, it turns out that she died in 2020 at the age of 41. The original photo that was on Facebook and the one on the hunting website are no longer available. I propose another comparison, this time with animals not so exceptional. T.N.Bailey, in his book "The African leopard", in the Kruger, made a series of measurements on leopards of different ages and sex, the average of 5 old males gave a head and body length of 1.41 m, a total length of 2.19 and a weight of 63.1 kg among other measures. As for the height on the shoulders, I suppose he made it taking the total length of the leg extended to the ends of the finger, reason why it would have to subtract between 6 and 10 cm to the length to get the actual height.  *This image is copyright of its original author We have a photo, published also in this forum, of a leopard hunted in Zambia in 2004, number 1 in the ranking of that country, we know that it measured more than 8 feet ( 2.44 m), the skull measured 17 inches and the weight, although I could not contrast it would be close to 90 Kg.  *This image is copyright of its original author This time the chosen model is a leopard photographed in Londolozi.  *This image is copyright of its original author
36kg female killed by a male in Northern Tuli Game Reserve, Botswana
 *This image is copyright of its original author A case of cannibalism in leopards 
I have been recently in a conversation on instagram with an iranian biologist (he prefers remaining private) who mentioned to me two persian leopard weights from last year.
1) a female leopard, mentioned to be the smallest individual captured that year, weighed 32 kgs or 70.5 lbs 2) A 10 years old male leopard broke the scale when he was weighed, the value was of 80 kgs or 180 lbs but since the scale broke the real weight was presumably more  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
an approximately 170 lbs or 77 kg huge male sadly Trophy hunted by the subhumans in Zimbabwe
 *This image is copyright of its original author https://www.huntinfool.com/articles/type...rd-makes-5
Two females collared in the Zambeze Delta in Mozambique
45kg female (pregnant):  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author 30kg female:  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author LEOPARD REPORT - SEP 2019
An emaciated sub-adult Javan female
 *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author Molecular diagnosis with the corresponding clinical symptoms of canine distemper virus infection in javan leopard (Panthera pardus ssp. melas)   *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
(12-06-2022, 10:35 PM)Pckts Wrote: What's the name of this book? I noticed you posted data of the Asiatic lion and Indian tiger too so surely it's related to Asian trophy animals? This is the first time I see a leopard exceeding 300 mm in skull length and also the first time I see a leopard skull of 20" in total score. Very impressive as the top 3 skulls are lioness-sized skulls. Also worth noting is that the Persian leopard skulls originate from North of Iran. The absolute biggest are from the Mazandaran province in northern Iran, others are from northeastern (e.g. Tandoureh National Park) or northwestern Iran. In the provinces of Gilan, Mazandaran and Golestan you find the biggest Persian leopards with certainty. For comparison, the Rowland Ward's leopard record skull scored 19":  *This image is copyright of its original author
This is Rowalnd Wards Volume 2
Skulls are measured in the same way SCI skulls are measured so should be taken with the same grain of salt. (12-07-2022, 06:57 PM)Pckts Wrote: This is Rowalnd Wards Volume 2 At least the Rowland Ward Records has shown some huge male leopards unlike the SCI Records. Seriously, the no.2 male from the SCI Records looks normal in size yet rivals the top 3 Asiatic male leopards from the Rowland Wards Records in terms of skull measurements. Like Chui said, he has a lioness-sized skull despite his average size. He also originates from the Kalahari which isn't exactly known for its big leopards. Compare that with the 200-220lbs estimated male with a skull score of 17.75" from the Rowland Ward Records and it's clear which one is more reliable between the two. A Tanzanian male had a skull score of 15.75" and weighed 78kg so again the Rowland Ward male leopard's weight with his 17.75" skull score is realistic. Both should be taken "with a grain of salt" because they're hunter records after all. It is interesting to see the consistency of the Persian leopard's origin though, being all from North of Iran. That again proves that the biggest Persian leopards are to be found in North of Iran. I will admit that I still find it impressive for a recorded 20" skull score no matter which source (i.e. scientific or hunted). But, at the same time I don't take it fully serious. For example, there's a hunted leopard with a skull width of 200 mm, wider than the widest scientifically leopard skull (191 mm). Guess which one I consider more reliable/possible? Also, why do you specifically take the 115kg Persian male with a grain of salt when the source is scientifically and we both got confirmation from the wildlife veterinarian (Iman Memarian)? He did say he was found near a carcass so we can safely assume he wasn't empty though. Yet Troncha, the Pantanal jaguaress was pregnant and wasn't empty and still everyone acknowledges her 110kg weight figure. (12-08-2022, 07:47 PM)Luipaard Wrote:(12-07-2022, 06:57 PM)Pckts Wrote: This is Rowalnd Wards Volume 2 What do you mean? SCI has shown numerous cats. Some look big and others not as much but hold little value as forced perspective images don't mean anything. The idea that one is more "clear" to you than another again doesn't mean much. Skull size doesn't always equate to body weight and on top of that, body condition will play a major role. They should be taken with a grain of salt because of the protocol used, not because they are hunters. Hunters like anyone need to be vetted and protocols need to be mentioned then you can determine how valid they are. The protocol used to measure these skulls isn't the same used to measure others and can lead to exaggerated sizes at times, that is why they should be taken with a grain of salt when comparing to others without knowing the protocols used. In regards to N. Iran Leopards being larger than their S. Cousins, I don't think anyone disputes it but would I never saw were mention of Indian Leopards being larger than Persians so now are we going to claim them to be the largest of all Leopards? Lastly, the comparison about Troncha holds no weight as the information provided was by the one who created the table and of course specifically mentions her condition and pregnancy.
I think that we have focused mainly on the larger subspecies and morphotypes and we have somewhat marginalized other not so large subspecies, but equally attractive.
I attach some data obtained from a report by L.I.Grassman on leopards Panthera pardus delacouri in Kaeng Krachan, Thailand, 1999, in which we are provided with specific measurements and photographs of two leopards that serve to obtain a comparative graph https://thesiamsociety.org/wp-content/up...Behavi.pdf  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
I attach data on the size of Panthera pardus delacouri in Thailand. Unfortunately I do not have noted the source from which I obtained them. I guess they fit well here.
 *This image is copyright of its original author
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