Two main studies will be used for the sake of this comparison :
Second study :
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jmor.20382
Without further ado, let's get into it!
-Thoracic height/centrum length (first study):
Edge : Lion-Thoracic height/thoracic region length (second study):
Edge: Draw (0.0564 VS 0.055)
-Thoracic height/body mass (second study):
Edge: Tiger (0.1653 VS 0.1327)
-Thoracic spine length/centrum length (first study):
Edge : Lion
-Thoracic Width/centrum length (first study):
Edge : Tiger
-Thoracic width/thoracic region length (second study):
Edge: Lion (0.0618 VS 0.0599)
-Thoracic width/body mass (second study):
Edge: Tiger (0.1798 VS 0.1453)
-Thoracic area/thoracic region length (second study):
Edge: Lion (1.24 VS 1.14)
-Thoracic area/body mass (second study):
Edge: Tiger (3.24 VS 2.92)
-Thoracic region length/thoracolumar length (first+second study) :
Edge : Draw (55.55% VS 55.2%)
Overall Edge in Thoracic Robusticity : Draw
-Lumbar height/centrum length (first study):
Edge : Lion
-Lumbar height/Lumbar region length (second study):
Edge: Lion (0.0833 VS 0.0763)
-Lumbar height/body mass (second study):
Edge: Tiger (0.1847 VS 0.1574)
-Lumbar spine length/centrum length (first study):
Edge : Draw (overlap)
-lumbar width/lumbar region length (second study):
Edge: Lion (0.1261 VS 0.1127)
-lumbar width/body mass (second study):
Edge: Tiger (0.2725 VS 0.2382)
-lumbar area/lumbar region length (second study):
Edge: Lion (3.1256 VS 2.4851)
-lumbar area/body mass (second study):
Edge: Tiger (6.01 VS 5.90)
Lumbar region length/thoracolumar length (first+second study) :
Edge : Draw (44.45% VS 44.8%)
NOTE: A third study also mentions that Lions have proportionally wider, more ventro-cranially and less cranially oriented lumbar processes with larger endplates and more anteriorly positioned spinous processes due to having more negative PC1 and PC2 scores. These features would play a role in strengthening the Lion's back. The Tiger's positive PC1 and PC2 scores would grant it taller neural spines which is an advantage but also more cranially oriented processes :
https://academic.oup.com/biolinnean/article/116/3/721/2440504
Overall Edge in Lumbar Robusticity : Lion