Large Cats

African  Lion (panthera leo) -  second largest of the living species of cat (the Siberian Tiger is the largest). Approx. skull length 16"

Liger (rare man-made cross breed between a male lion and female tiger) shows characteristics of both species but grows much larger than either parent.  Some Ligers can weigh more than 1,200 pounds.  Approx skull length 17"

Side view of the African lion.

Front teeth comparison - Liger on the left, lion right. 

Lions have thicker, somewhat shorter canines than tigers, and this can be seen to a slight degree in the photos despite the fact that the Liger is only 50% tiger.

Side view of the Liger - note the rounded bump at the very back of the skull that is characteristic of the tiger (panthera tigris).