Bericht 13.pub - Kora

Juni 2002 Appendix I27With felids, it is often difficult to find morphologicalcharacters that are completely diagnostic, especiallyin closely related species, because atypical characterstated commonly appear at low frequency. For this reason,distinctive morphological gaps in single characterstates may not prove useful for detecting genetic discontinuitiesbetween species. The level of geographicvariation of the pampas cat observed within the “pajeros”group and the moderate variation shown withinthe less extensive “braccatus” and “colocolo” populationssuggest that they have been genetically isolatedfor a long period. The extent of variation within each iscomparable to that found between recognized subspeciesin other felids.2.4. Heritage of coat patternsThe color patterns in mammals are genetically determinedbut very little is known about the heritage ofcoat patterns. Robinson (1976) suggested that thechange of the spotted pattern to blotches in the cheetahsis comparable to that of the so-called „stripedtabby“ to the „blotched tabby“ in the domestic cat Feliscatus. This implies that the king coat color pattern resultsfrom a mutation inherited as a single autosomalrecessive allele. The expression of the aberrant coatcolor results from the action of an autosomal recessiveallele (van Aarde & van Dyk 1986).The variations of the marking-color system of theFelids are genetically controlled and, in this case, it ispossible to recognize a genetic homology with the multipleallelism to the „Tabby” locus (Robinson 1977). Inparticular: The spotted coat and the striped coat can beconsidered a gradient of phenotypic expression of the „spotted-striped” or „mackerel tabby” (Ts) allele, whilethe allele controlling the concolor coat is referable tothe „Abyssinian tabby” (Ta). Both alleles belong to thehomologous genetic series well known in Felis and, toa lesser extent, in other genera of the Felidae family:Panthera, Acinonyx, Leptailurus (Robinson 1978). AFelidae-wide study is in progress to determine thegenes coding for coat patterns at the Laboratory of GenomicDiversity, National Cancer Institute, Fredrickton,VA (Director S. J. O'Brien; E. Eizirik, pers.comm.). Eizirik developed a study of genetic basis ofmelanism in leopards and other cats as part of abroader investigation on the evolution of coat colorgenes in the Felidae.slopes of the Himalayas, and have been reported bothfrom thick scrub woodland and from barren, rocky areasabove the treeline. On the better-forested southernHimalayan slopes, the only record is a sighting in alpinetundra (4.500 m) from the Dhaulagiri region ofNepal. Lynx occur locally over the entire Tibetan plateau,and are found throughout the rocky hills andmountains of the central Asia desert regions.The Eurasian lynx has one of the widest ranges ofall cat species, with approximately 75 % of the rangewithin the borders of Russia. Lynx have been recordedas far north as 72° N, near the edge of the continentallandmass (Nowell & Jackson 1996). Due to the extensionof the present range the habitats of lynx – primarilyforested areas inhabited by large ungulate populations– may differ considerably and consequently it isnot astonishing that they show different coat patterns.In central Asia, lynx occur in more open, thinlywooded areas (Matjuschkin 1978). Lynx are probablyfound throughout the northern slopes of the Himalayas,and have been reported both from thick scrub woodlandand from barren, rocky areas above the treeline.On the better-forested southern Himalayan slopes, theonly record is a sighting in alpine tundra (4.500 m)from the Dhaulagiri region of Nepal. Lynx occur locallyover the entire Tibetan plateau, and are foundthroughout the rocky hills and mountains of the centralAsia desert regions.The habitats of lynx are very different and consequentlyit is not astonishing that they show differentcoat patterns. The following overview presents the differentdescription of coat patterns of Eurasian lynx ofseveral authors. Most of them observed three types ofpatterns (large spots, small spots and without spots).The leopard-like pattern has not yet been described indetail. But in some pictures of several studies, the leopard-likepattern can be recognized (Figure I.2, I.3, I.4).2.5. Coat patterns in Eurasian lynxWithin the lynx family there are four recent species:the Eurasian lynx, the Pardel lynx, the Canadian lynx(Lynx canadensis) and the Red lynx (Lynx rufus). InSwitzerland the native lynx is the Eurasian. His presentrange extends throughout Europe and Siberia. Thehabitat are primarily forested areas which have goodungulate populations. In central Asia, lynx occur inmore open, thinly wooded areas (Matjuschkin 1978).Lynx are probably found throughout the northern