Size Comparison: Lion vs. Tiger

In a size comparison of a lion vs. tiger the body lengths, shoulder height, and chest girth are the key measures. The overall body length of big cats starts from the tip of their nose to the end of their tail. In a lion vs. tiger body length measure, Siberian tigers are at the top with body lengths up to 13 feet long. The maximum recorded body length for a Siberian tiger is 13.8 feet. The maximum length ever recorded for an African lion is 12 feet. Similarly, the body length for a male Siberian tiger is 11 feet, and for an African lion is 10 feet. The average body length of male Bengal tigers is also 10 feet long.

Body Length Comparison: Lion vs. Tiger

Big Cat	Length in Feet
Maximum Length of Siberian Tigers	13 Feet
Longest Specimen of Siberian Tiger	13.8 Feet
Maximum Length of African Lion	12 Feet
Normal Length of Siberian Tigers	11 Feet
Normal Length of African Lion	10 Feet
Normal Length of Bengal Tiger	10 Feet

Lionesses and tigresses are both shorter in body length as compared to male lions and tigers. Both lionesses and tigresses (Bengal tigresses) have an average body length of 9 feet each. The Siberian tigresses have a slightly longer body length of 9.25 feet. Therefore, just like male Siberian tigers, female Siberian tigers are also larger in body length than lionesses.

Body Length Comparison: Lion vs. Tiger (Females)

Big Cat	Length in Feet
Siberian Tigress	9.2 Feet
African Lioness	9 Feet
Bengal Tigresses	9 Feet

In terms of a shoulder height, both African and Asiatic lions are taller than Bengal tigers. Lions usually have a shoulder height of up to 3.9 feet. The shoulder height of both African and Asian lions is the same. Bengal tigers are smaller at shoulder height standing up to 3.5 feet tall. On the other hand, Siberian tigers like African lions can also reach a shoulder height of 3.9 feet and according to some sources 4.2 feet as well. These statistics reveal that Siberian tigers are either equal to or taller than African lions at shoulder height.

Shoulder Height Comparison: Lion vs. Tiger

Big Cat	Height in Feet
Siberian Tiger	4.2 Feet
African Lion	3.9 Feet
Asiatic Lion	3.9 Feet
Bengal Tiger	3.5 Feet

Among females, lionesses (Both African and Asiatic lionesses) reach a shoulder height of up to 3.5 feet. Bengal tigresses have a height of up to 3.2 feet tall. The Siberian tigresses are also taller than Bengal tigresses reaching up to 3.5 feet tall on shoulders. Therefore, both African lionesses and Siberian tigresses possess same height with marginal variations.

Shoulder Height Comparison: Lion vs. Tiger (Females)

Big Cat	Height in Feet
Siberian Tigress	3.5 Feet
African Lioness	3.5 Feet
Asiatic Lionesses	3.5 Feet
Bengal Tigress	3.2 Feet

Finally, another important measure that reveal the size of a predator is the chest girth. African lions have a chest girth of 144 cm. Bengal tigers are the second best (compared to African lions) and have a chest girth of up to 125 cm. However, for Siberian tigers, a chest girth of 186 cm (by Jerdon in Art Anatomy of Animals) has been reported. This figure allows Siberian tiger in the top position for widest chest girth among the big cats in the wild.

Chest Girth Comparison: Lion vs. Tiger

Big Cat	Length in cm
Siberian Tiger (Largest Specimen)	186 cm
African Lion	144 cm
Bengal Tiger	125 cm

References

1. Basappanavar, C.H., 2021. The Eye of Tiger: Discover Untold Secrets of the World of Tigers!. Notion Press.
2. Deming, B.J., 2020. Meet the Big Cats!. Notion Press.
3. Karanth, K.U. and Nichols, J.D., 2017. Methods For Monitoring Tiger And Prey Populations. Springer.
4. Hammond, P., 2010. The Atlas of the World's Most Dangerous Animals: Mapping Nature's Born Killers. Marshall Cavendish.
5. Heptner, V.G. and Naumov, N.P., 1992. Mammals of the Soviet Union, Volume 2 Part 2: Carnivora (Hyaenas and Cats). Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Libraries, p. 136.
6. Mitra, S., 2005. Gir Forest and the Saga of the Asiatic Lion. Indus Publishing.
7. Nowak, R.M., 2005. Walker's Carnivores of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland.
8. Seton, E.T., 1896. Art Anatomy of Animals. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York.
9. Sunquist, M. and Sunquist, F., 2002. Wild Cats of the World. University of Chicago Press.
10. Van der Geer, A., 2008. Animals in Stone: Indian Mammals Sculptured Through Time. Brill.