Identification of tiger and lion skulls: An illustrated guide for science and practice

Tiger and lion bones are valuable subjects of trafficking. They can be easily interchanged. The aim of this study was to develop a methodology to quickly distinguish between tiger and lion skulls. From a number of features reported in the literature, a set of seven significant characters was identif...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inZoologica scripta Vol. 54; no. 3; pp. 291 - 304
Main Authors Formanova, Dominika, Kubatova, Anna
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Oslo Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.05.2025
Subjects
Bones
comparative anatomy
craniometry
identification key
morphology
Skull
wildlife trafficking
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Summary:Tiger and lion bones are valuable subjects of trafficking. They can be easily interchanged. The aim of this study was to develop a methodology to quickly distinguish between tiger and lion skulls. From a number of features reported in the literature, a set of seven significant characters was identified that can be recognized even in photographs. A methodology for their assessment was developed. Using a combination of them allows for a very reliable morphological distinction between the two species. A new character, the greater palatine foramen ratio, of both adult and juvenile skulls, has not been described in the context of identification of tiger and lion skulls before.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ISSN:0300-3256
1463-6409
DOI:10.1111/zsc.12716