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: Lion (0.0564 VS 0.049)
-Thoracic height/body mass (second study):
Edge: Leopard (0.2905 VS 0.1327)
-Thoracic spine length/centrum length (first study):
Edge : Lion
-Thoracic Width/centrum length (first study):
Edge : Lion
-Thoracic width/thoracic region length (second study):
Edge: Lion (0.0618 VS 0.0571)
-Thoracic width/body mass (second study):
Edge: Leopard (0.3373 VS 0.1453)
-Thoracic area/thoracic region length (second study):
Edge: Lion (1.24 VS 0.675)
-Thoracic area/body mass (second study):
Edge: Leopard (3.98 VS 2.92)
-Thoracic region length/thoracolumar length (first+second study) :
Edge : Lion (55.55% VS 54.24%)
Overall Edge in Thoracic Robusticity : Lion
-Lumbar height/centrum length (first study):
Edge : Lion
-Lumbar height/Lumbar region length (second study):
Edge: Lion (0.0833 VS 0.0686)
-Lumbar height/body mass (second study):
Edge: Leopard (0.345 VS 0.1574)
-Lumbar spine length/centrum length (first study):
Edge : Lion
-lumbar width/lumbar region length (second study):
Edge: Lion (0.1261 VS 0.1078)
-lumbar width/body mass (second study):
Edge: Leopard (0.5420 VS 0.2382)
-lumbar area/lumbar region length (second study):
Edge: Lion (3.1256 VS 1.58)
-lumbar area/body mass (second study):
Edge: Leopard (7.93 VS 5.90)
-Lumbar region length/thoracolumar length (first+second study) :
Edge : Lion (44.45% VS 45.76%) because lower score is better in this case.
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 Leopard'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