Expert: Malcolm B. Sullivan Date: 3/11/2008 Subject: Tiger and lion anatomy.
Question Hello,
tigers resemble what other big cat in build the most? is it the lion? can you ascertain this with diagrams, notes or anything? thanks!
some guy said to me that the tiger is built more like a
jaguar. i heard tiger claws and teeth are longer than lion claws and teeth, how much longer? are the tiger claws and teeth as strong as the lions claw and teeth?
thanks, sorry for alot of questions.
Answer Hi, Mikaail
All Panthera cats are built in a similar way, and the minimal differences are the ones that serve us to tell them apart, so in reality, tigers resemble all other big cats in build.
When compared to a lion, they are lower and longer, but have a shorter, bigger and rounder head. Other than this and the obvious external features, they are so similar that it would be hard to tell them apart by looking only at bones.
However, they are in no way as robust and heavyset as jaguars relatively to their overall size.
And yes, on average tigers have claws longer than those of lions. Their teeth and claws are equally strong, although obviously, the larger the animal, the stronger its bite and claws will be. Check past answers for more details on tiger and lion teeth and claw length.
