Is
Neofelis Nebulosa And Neofelis Diardi Two Different Species?
By Nina-Marie Ostli
In 1821, the British
naturalist Edward Griffith scientifically described clouded leopards inhabiting
the
Until 2007, scientists
believed that this carnivore was the same species as the clouded leopards
inhabiting the mainland of
Surprisingly
They are almost as different,
genetically, as the lion and the leopard.
Picture 1: N.diardi is a tree leopard which spend most of its time in
the trees
(Source: http://www.wwfmalaysia.org/newsroom/pressel/2007/pr070315.htm)
Probably it
all started during the time age Pleistocene (1.8 mill-11550 years bc) when the sea level changed and isolated
As a consequence,
some of the clouded leopards got isolated from each other, and then also
reproductively isolated. Their genes could now gradually change independent of
each other.
In 2007
scientists used molecular genetic methods on 109 individuals of clouded
leopards and other Felids (cat species) from known geographic regions to
determine if there were more than the 36 all ready known species of the Felidae
family.
In the
experiment they used 3 individuals of N.nebulosa and 3 individuals of N.diardi
of the 109 individuals of Felidae.
The
scientists compared DNA`s from these individuals and the combined results of
DNA analysis actually pointed to a 1-3 mill years difference in separation.
This meant that N.nebulosa and N.diardi had been separated or isolated from each other since Pleistocene and that they had 1-3 million years with
different gene development because of the isolation.
The
scientists found around 40 nucleotide differences between N.diardi and N.nebulosa,
Comparatory about 56 nucleotide differences separate the panthera species
(Lion, tiger, leopards…).
In spite of
the huge differences in the genes, the two species are not very different
morphologically. However, there are some differences:
N.diardi have
smaller clouds with distinct spot within the markings, they have darker fur and
also a double stripe on their back.
Summary of
facts:
-They have
1-3 mill years difference in separation, while the
accepted distance of two species
to be classified as
different is 1-2 mill years.
-They have
circa 40 nucleotide differences, which is more than what is required for two
individuals to be classified as two different species.
These facts
support the theory of N.diardi and N.nebulosa being classified as two separate
species, and that there is 37 and not 36 species of the Felidae family.
Picture 2: Bornean clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi)
References:
Research article:
V.A. Buckley-Beason, W.E Johnson, W.G
Nash, R. Stanyon, J.C Menninger, C.A. Driscoll, J. Howard, M. Bush, J.E. Page,
M.E. Roelke, G. Stone, P.P. Martelli, C. Wen, L. Ling, R.K. Duraisingam, P.V.
Lam, and S.J. O`Brien, (2006). Molecular Evidence for Species level Distinction
in Clouded Leopards. Curr Biol. 16(23):2371-6.
https://intranet.panda.org/documents/folder.cfm?uFolderID=61441
Links:
www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2007/03/15/495141.html
http://www.wwfmalaysia.org/newsroom/pressrel/2007/pr070315.htm