Morphology of the wild Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica ):

By Ral A. Valvert L.
Guatemala, May 2015.

Table 1
Measurements and weights of wild male Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) >3 years old, according with modern research.
(1992-2012)

Tiger Id.

Name

Weight (kg)

Head-body
length (cm)*

Total length
(cm)

Chest girth
(cm)

09
12
14
16
20
22
28
33
34
40
49
50
63
82
84
85
90
100
114

Eugene

Zheny-1
Dale***
Aleksei****
Igor
Maurice
Sasha
Misha****
Valodia
Andrey-1****
Zheny-2

Sergei
Ivan

Banzai
Leopardovy
Luk
Patchy
Professor
Sheriff
Victor
Vladimir
Average

182
200

187
193

200
179
188

170

155
180
179
200
200
193
182
207
200
212
190
204
200
174
196
190.0

197

192
196
200
185
202
208
198
192
194
199
178

183

190

194

296
306
287
302
309
297
290
291
291
278

286

288

293

128
130
115
130
127
126
107
113
102
111

117

119

Height to
shoulders
(cm)**

92
98
94
96
104
91
106

82
83

104

81

94

Estimated age (yrs)

Capture date

Reference

6.5 7.5 (4 5)
67
3.5 4.5 (3 4)
78
12 (9 11)
6 (3 4)
7
7
6
>3
>3
>3
>3
12 16
56
8
10
4
45
Adult
Adult
5
Adult
Adult
Adult
8 10
12 14

28/03/96 (10/11/93)
01/11/1995 (1993)
15/03/97 (06/96)
10/03/98 (11/93)
26/02/00 (11/95 03/98)
29/12/98 (06/96)
10/10/1998
03/05/1999
12/06/1999

26/10/2006
10/11/2006
14/10/2007
Fall, 2009
Fall, 2010
October, 2011
24/05/2011
15/05/2011
October, 2012
Autumn, 2010
02/05/2010
January 2011
22/02/2004
17/03/2001

S.T.P. report, 1993 & 1996.

* Measured in a straight line, from the tip of the nose to the root of tail.
** Measured from the shoulder to the wrist.
*** This male is the third heaviest Amur tiger recorded by scientists, with 205 kg in its last capture.
**** See Appendix table.
The animals captured in more than one occasion were weighed several times, in this case, the presented weights are they average figures. Names in italic are from the location of the capture.

Appendix: Unhealthy tigers

Tiger No.

Name

Weight (kg)

22
40
50

Aleksei*
Misha**
Andrey-1***

146
147
125

Head-body
length (cm)*
185
192
199

Chest girth
(cm)
115
107
102

Estimated
age (yrs)
6 (3 4)
>3
>3

Reference
Kerley et al. ,
2005; Slaght
et al. , 2005.

* First, in 1996, its weight was estimated in 160-170 kg. Latter in 1998, it was hit by a car and it was found in emaciated conditions
with just 126 kg in body mass. It was euthanized.
** Described with "extremely poor physical conditions", but capable of killing by itself.
*** Sustained numerous injures, had deformed skull and suffered distemper.

S.T.P. report, 1993 & 1995.

Kerley et al., 2005.

N.F.W.F. report, 2006.

WCS - S.T.P. report, 2007.
Miller, 2012.
John Lewis, Pers. Comm. , 2013.
T.A.T. Programme, web page, 2011.
T.A.T. Programme, web page, 2014.
T.A.T. Programme, web page, 2010.
John Goodrich, Pers. Comm. , 2013.
Kerley et al., 2005.
Miquelle, 2002.

Table 2
Measurements and weights of wild female Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) >3 years old, according with modern research.
(1992-2012)

Tigress Id.

Name

Weight (kg)

Head-body
length (cm)*

Total length
(cm)

Chest girth
(cm)

01
02
03
04
08
13
21
27
32
35
37
83
99

Olga
Lena
Natasha
Mary Ivanovna***
Katya-2
Nelja
Nadya
Vita
Ludmila
Lidya
Nellie

Princess
Roskosh
Average

121
114
120
127
117
118
120
118
123
113
121
127
130
136
110
121.0

168
169
167
182
177
174
174
170
176
173

176

173

260
253
258
270
272
265
269
262
269
262

264

106
91
105
108
102
106
103
101
106
101

103

Height to
shoulders
(cm)**
79
76
75

78
79
75
82
86
86

80

Estimated age (yrs)

Capture date

3 13
56
7.5 8.5 (5.5 6.5)
9 11 (5 7)
45
3.5 4.5 (3 4)
5 7 (3 4)
>3
6 (4)
67
7
8 10
68
Adult
Adult

17/03/2002 (11/02/92)
22/06/1992
20/03/97 (26/04/95)
18/11/96 (08/11/92)
21/12/1995
15/03/97 (18/06/96)
17/06/1996 (12/12/95)
15/05/1998
02/05/1999
21/10/1999
16/11/1999
08/11/2006
18/02/2010
06/05/2011
06/06/2011

Reference

Kerley et al., 2005

Goodrich, 2004
N.F.W.F. report, 2006
Phoenix Fund, 2010; Miller, 2012
T.A.T. Programme, web page, 2011

* Measured in a straight line, from the tip of the nose to the root of tail.
** Measured from the shoulder to the wrist.
*** This female had the record of the third heaviest Amur tigress recorded by scientists, with 129 kg in its first capture.
The animals captured in more than one occasion were weighed several times, in this case, the presented weights are they average figures. Names in italic are from the location of the capture.

Average size of the male Amur tiger:

* Weight: 190 kg (n=23).
* Head-body length: 194 cm (n=14).
* Total length: 294 cm (n=13).
* Chest girth: 119 cm (n=13).
* Height at shoulders: 95 cm (n=11).

From Kerley et al. (2005).

Average size of the female Amur tiger:

* Weight: 121 kg (n=15).
* Head-body length: 173 cm (n=11).
* Total length: 264 cm (n=10).
* Chest girth: 103 cm (n=10).
* Height at shoulders: 80 cm (n=9).

Table 3
Measurements and weights of wild male Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) >3 years old, in reliable historic records.
(1900-1970)
Tiger No.

Identification

Weight
(kg)

Head-body
length (cm)*

Total length
(cm)*

Chest girth
(cm)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

AMNH-85404
AMNH-85396
Moguchi's tiger
Antonov's tiger
No. S 57600 - ZMMU

Jankowski's tiger
Average

249.5
217.7
227
221
195
224
254
163.7
196
217

216.5

210
196
180

190

194

309
305
292
280
284
280

358 (338)**
329 (309)**

330
297

147

150

117

138

Height to
shoulders
(cm)
93
91.5
81

107

93

Place of the hunt

Reference

Sikhote Alin
Bikin, Ussuri region
Bikin, Ussuri region
North Kirin, Manchuria
Ussuri region
Balei, Trans-Baikal
Manchuria
Trans-Amur region
Heng-taohotzu Station
Sikhote Alin
Sikhote Alin
Sungari river, Manchuria

Heptner & Sludskii, 1992.

Goodwin, 1933; Slaght et al.,
2005.
Sowerby, 1936.
Heptner & Sludskii, 1992.
Slaght et al., 2005.
Baikov, 1925.
Slaght et al., 2005.
Mazk, 1981.

* Except from tiger 1, 3, 6 and 12, all the other specimens were probably measured "over curves".
** Length between pegs (in parentesis) was estimated subtracting 20 cm from the original measuremenst. They were not included in the final average.
Names in italic are those from the people that hunt the specimen.

Table 4
Measurements and weights of wild female Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) >3 years old, in reliable historic records.
(1900-1970)
Tiger No.

Identification

Weight
(kg)

Head-body
length (cm)*

Total length
(cm)*

Chest girth
(cm)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

No. 29664 - ZMMU

No. 34855 - ZMMU

Average

99.5
145.8
167

160
115
137.5

178
177
172
173
159

172

265
264.5
260
282
247

264

Height to
shoulders
(cm)

76
79

78

Place of the hunt

Reference

Radde region
Khor river
Iman river
Bikin, Ussuri region
Suchan River
Manchuria

Heptner & Sludskii, 1992.

Mazk, 1967.
Goodwin, 1933.
Heptner & Sludskii, 1992.
Slaght et al., 2005

* Except from tigress 2, 3, 4 and 5, all the other specimens were probably measured "over curves".
Based on its size, the tigress No. 6 was probably a sub-adult specimen.

Average size of the male Amur tiger:

* Weight: 216.5 kg (n=10).
* Head-body length: 194 cm (n=4).
* Total length: 297 cm (n=7).
* Chest girth: 138 cm (n=3).
* Height at shoulders: 93 cm (n=4).

Average size of the female Amur tiger:

* Weight: 137.5 kg (n=5).
* Head-body length: 172 cm (n=5).
* Total length: 264 cm (n=5).
* Height at shoulders: 78 cm (n=2).