Technique to Distinguish Sex of Tiger (<I>Panthera tigris</I>) from Pug-marks

Abstract

The difference in tbe measuremets of total lenglh (PML) and width (PMB) of an adult tiger blad pug mark not distorted, is less than 1.5 cm in males and more in females. In male PMB = 0940 (PML)-0.138 cm ± 0.503 cm and in females PMB=0.724 (PML)+ 1.467 cm ± 0.589 cm. When the pug-mark is not fresh or is sprawled out the relationship between PTL and TTB can be used to distinguish the sexes from tbe pug marks PTL is the measurement between centre of the pad to centre of the farthest toe. TTB is the measurement of the first and fourth toe. The centers in tbese measurements are the approximate cross points of the part's long axis and broad axis. In male tiger TTB = 0.817 (PIL) + 3.627 cm ±0.736 cm and in female TTB = 0.810 (PTL) + 0.593 Cm ± 0.700 cm. Hypothetically sexual dimorphism in tiger cubs may be evident in PIL vs ITB relationship but may not be c1ear in PML vs PMB relationship.