Scientists from Moscow State University named after MV Lomonosov, together with their foreign colleagues, discovered that life in captivity changes the shape of the skull of tigers, making it wider and shorter. The research was published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.
Scientists examine differences between 172 tiger skulls pantera tigris those held in captivity or living in natural habitats from different parts of the world. The comparison was made over 47 parameters.
Biologists have found that the skull of tigers is characterized by a large variability in parameters influenced by environmental factors, primarily nutrition. According to the authors, the skulls of tigers in zoos turned out to be wider, have a shortened facial part, a higher lower jaw and underdeveloped ridges to which chewing muscles are attached.
Despite its wide distribution, tigers are endangered species and are listed in many Red Books, including Russian. The work of scientists will improve conditions for keeping tigers in captivity, for example, by changing their feeding program.