Project 1: Measuring the bodies of large African predators

When you see a lion or leopard . . . do you have an idea of the actual size of the lion or the leopard?

        

Photographs taken by Willie Combrinck

A comprehensive procedure was developed to measure the bodies of large African predators. A maned male lion (Panthera leo) was used as example, but the procedure was used to measure other predators as well, such as leopard (Panthera pardus), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), caracal (Caracal caracal), serval (Felis serval), Cape fox (Vulpes chama) and black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas).

A copy of the Field Data Sheet is at the bottom of this page.

• ALPRU Procedure 0 - equipment for measuring the bodies of large African predators
• ALPRU Procedure 1 - measuring the length of the body and the tail of African lions (Panthera leo)
• ALPRU Procedure 1c - measuring the length of the body and the tail of African lions (Panthera leo)
• ALPRU Procedure 2a - measuring the mane of male African lions (Panthera leo)
• ALPRU Procedure 2b - measuring the mane of African lions (Panthera leo)
• ALPRU Procedure 3 - measuring the four canines and the rostrum of African lions (Panthera leo)
• ALPRU Procedure 4 - measuring the chest and abdominal girths and the circumference and length of the tail of African lions (Panthera leo)
• ALPRU Procedure 5 - measuring the length and the width of the head of African lions (Panthera leo)
• ALPRU Procedure 6 - measuring the front legs and the front paws of African lions (Panthera leo)
• ALPRU Procedure 7 - measuring the hind feet and the back paws of African lions (Panthera leo)
• Field Data Sheet to record morphometric data of large African predators

We are interested in your results. Use the particulars provided at the bottom of the Field Data Sheets and dispatch a completed copy to ALPRU.
Data/information are treated with confidentiality and will be included in the ALPRU database.