F I G U R E 1 a–d. Identifying characters, tiger on the left (a, c photo: Panthera tigris, adult female, collection of the Czech National Museum, ID 097165); lion on the right (b, d photo: Panthera leo leo, adult male, collection of the Czech National Museum, ID 046900)—a, b. Greater palatine foramen (GPF, highlighted with red circles) ratio and caudal margin of the palatine bones (highlighted with blue circles), detailed view of skulls from the ventral side, the shortest distance between the outer edge of the GPF and the medial palatal suture indicated by arrow X, the total length of the medial palatal suture indicated by arrow Y. (a) tiger skull, photo (GPF ratio X/Y = 0.372, the central (middle) notch of the caudal margin of the palatine bones narrow), and schematic drawing. (b) lion skull, photo (GPF ratio X/Y = 0.550, the central notch wide), and schematic drawing—c, d. Foramen ovale (FO, highlighted with red circles) orientation (FOO) and outlet boundary (FOB), detailed view of skulls from the ventral side (angles of FOO indicated). (c) tiger skull, photo (FOO forward, left angle 32°, right angle 37°, FOB circular and visible), and schematic drawing. (d) lion skull, photo (FOO laterally, left angle 77°, right angle 72°, FOB straight and hidden), and schematic drawing.