IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library
   

 

View printer friendly
Wilting, A.; Buckley-Beason, V.A.; Feldhaar, H.; Gadau, J.; O'Brien, S.J.; Linsenmair, K.E.
Clouded leopard phylogeny revisited: support for species recognition and population division between Borneo and Sumatra
2007  Frontiers in Zoology (4): 1-10

Background: The clouded leopard (_Neofelis nebulosa_) is one of the least known cat species and depletion of their forested habitats puts it under heavy pressure. Recently reclassification of Bornean clouded leopards (_N. nebulosa diardi_) to species level (_N. diardi_) was suggested based on molecular and morphological evidence. Since the genetic results were based solely on three Bornean samples we re-evaluated this partition using additional samples of Bornean clouded leopards (N = 7) and we were also able to include specimens from Sumatra (N = 3), which were lacking in previous analysis. Results: We found strong support for the distinction between _N. nebulosa _and _N. diardi _based on three fragments of mtDNA (900 bp) and 18 microsatellites. Forty-one fixed mitochondrial nucleotide differences and non-overlapping allele sizes in 8 of 18 microsatellite loci distinguished _N.nebulosa _and _N. diardi_. This is equivalent to the genetic divergence among recognized species in the genus _Panthera_. Sumatran clouded leopards clustered with specimens from Borneo, suggesting that Sumatran individuals also belong to _N. diardi_. Additionally, a significant population subdivision was apparent among _N. diardi _from Sumatra and Borneo based on mtDNA and microsatellite data. Conclusion: Referring to their origin on two Sunda Islands we propose to give _N. diardi _the common name "Sundaland clouded leopard". The reduced gene flow between Borneo and Sumatra might suggest the recognition of two subspecies of _N. diardi_. Based on this reclassification of clouded leopards not only species, but also the populations on Borneo and Sumatra should be managed separately and a higher priority should be placed to protect the different populations from extinction.

PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here

 

(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union)