To parametrize Teichmüller space, it suffices to measure the hyperbolic lengths of a finite number of curves. It is well-known that $9g-9$ curves suffice, by a standard pair-of-pants argument given in, for instance Fathi-Laudenbach-Poenaru.
I recall that you need exactly $6g-5$ curves: you cannot achieve it by $6g-6$, because the character variety is not an algebraic subset of $\mathbb{C}^{6g-6}$, but one extra curve suffices. Is this correct, and if so, who proved it?
Likewise for measured foliations, the cone over the boundary at infinity: can you parametrize measured foliations with $6g-5$ curves, and how to see that you cannot do it with $6g-6$?