The origins of the scientific study and classification of giraffes
Giraffes have been known for many thousands of years from rock art and Egyptian artefacts, displayed by Roman emperors at games and triumphs between 46BC and AD 274, and briefly exhibited in the zoos of the Italian City States in the 15th Century, yet they remained in the realm of mythology until, in 1764, Ryk […]
Taxonomic re-evaluation of the jaguar
Abstract 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2361(1997)16:23.3.CO;2-M The purpose of this report is to re-examine jaguar (Panthera onca) subspecies using morphometric skull characters and multivariate statistical methods to analyze differences. Eleven skull characters used historically to define jaguar subspecies were measured on 170 specimens in U.S. natural history museums. Relationships among the eight recognized subspecies of jaguar were examined. using […]
Assessment of conservation units for the Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)
An assessment of conservation units for the Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) was conducted using a population aggregation analysis (PAA) of mitochondrial DNA site substitutions. Populations were defined as the three geographically separated regions of West Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. The intent of this assessment was to explore management options for this highly endangered lineage rather […]