The photo looks like a flash was used so there wouldnt be any shadows. When people measure a couger or other cats they MUST get measurments with the skin on the body or get carcus measurments. When I put the skin on a form there seems to be twice as much skin . All taxidermist can tell you the same story.
Like bear , people will give a 10 foot nose to base of tail measurment after the bear is steached to the limit. Im sure I could strech a 50 inch hide two feet but Im not into lieing about size I like telling facts.
Was those 7-9 foot lengths body or skin measurments?