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Journal article
Distinguishing the victim from the threat: SNP‐based methods reveal the extent of introgressive hybridization between wildcats and domestic cats in Scotland and inform future in situ and ex situ management options for species restoration
The degree of introgressive hybridization between the Scottish wildcat and domestic cat has long been suspected to be advanced. Here, we use a 35‐SNP‐marker test, designed to assess hybridization between wildcat and domestic cat populations in Scotland, to assess a database of 295 wild‐living and captive cat samples, and test...Senn, Helen ; Ghazali, Muhammad ; Kaden, Jennifer ; Barclay, David ; Harrower, Ben …
carnivores, captive populations, conservation management, and invasive species
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Journal article
A Mitochondrial Phylogeny of the Sand Cat (Felis margarita Loche, 1858)
The sand cat, Felis margarita Loche, 1858, is a small desert cat with a fragmented distribution across the Sahara, Arabian Peninsula, and Central Asia. It is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN; however, its status in many countries is unknown. Sand cats are generally classified into four subspecies:... -
Journal article
Multi-individual microsatellite identification: a multiple genome approach to microsatellite design (MiMi)
Bespoke microsatellite marker panels are increasingly affordable and tractable to researchers and conservationists. The rate of microsatellite discovery is very high within a shotgun genomic data set, but extensive laboratory testing of markers is required for confirmation of amplification and polymorphism. By incorporating shotgun next‐generation sequencing data sets from multiple... -
Journal article
Gross intestinal morphometry and allometry in primates (e23035)
Although it is generally assumed that among mammals and within mammal groups, those species that rely on diets consisting of greater amounts of plant fiber have larger gastrointestinal tracts (GIT), statistical evidence for this simple claim is largely lacking. We compiled a dataset on the length of the small intestine,...McGrosky, Amanda ; Meloro, Carlo ; Navarrete, Ana ; Heldstab, Sandra A ; Kitchener, Andrew C …
digestive tract, primate, anatomy, phylogeny, and diet
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Journal article
Preserved collagen reveals species identity in archaeological marine turtle bones from Caribbean and Florida sites
Advancements in molecular science are continually improving our knowledge of marine turtle biology and evolution. However, there are still considerable gaps in our understanding, such as past marine turtle distributions, which can benefit from advanced zooarchaeological analyses. Here, we apply collagen fingerprinting to 130 archaeological marine turtle bone samples up... -
Journal article
Twenty years of the tiger feeding pole: review and recommendations
The tiger feeding pole was developed at Glasgow Zoo, UK, more than 20 years ago as a feeding-enrichment device. Since then the adoption of the feeding pole by other zoos for Tigers Panthera tigris and other cats has been slow and sporadic until recent years when many zoos in the...Law, G ; Kitchener, Andrew C
behaviour, feeding, tiger, snow leopard, enrichment, jaguar, lion, welfare, captivity, and hunting
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Journal article
First recorded stranding of a short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus, in Britain
A male pilot whale, Globicephala sp., was reported as a live stranding on 1st March 2012 at Hazelbeach, near Neyland, Pembrokeshire. It was euthanased and its skull was recovered during an onsite necropsy. Examination of the skull and contemporary photographs of the stranded animal confirm that this is the first...Kitchener, Andrew C ; Hantke, Georg ; Penrose, R S ; Perkins, M W ; Deaville, R
Globicephala melas, Delphinidae, skull, and Globicephala macrorhynchus
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Journal article
Geographical variation in the clouded leopard, Neofelis nebulosa, reveals two species instead of one
The clouded leopard, Neofelis nebulosa, is an endangered semiarboreal felid with a wide distribution in tropical forests of southern and southeast Asia, including the islands of Sumatra and Borneo in the Indonesian archipelago . In common with many larger animal species, it displays morphological variation within its wide geographical range...Kitchener, Andrew C ; Beaumont, Mark A. ; Richardson, Douglas
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Journal article
New Bornean carnivore’ is most likely a little known flying squirrel
We analysed two camera-trap photos of an alleged new species of carnivore from Kalimantan, Borneo, Indonesia. Comparisons of the features seen in the photos with morphological features of 17 similar-looking species from the region suggest that the animal is not a new species of carnivore, as had been widely speculated,...Meijaard, Erik ; Kitchener, Andrew C ; Smeenk, Chris
petaurista, new mammal, civet, camera trap, Borneo, and Aeromys
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Journal article
The Near Eastern origin of cat domestication
The world's domestic cats carry patterns of sequence variation in their genome that reflect a history of domestication and breed development. A genetic assessment of 979 domestic cats and their wild progenitors-Felis silvestris silvestris ( European wildcat), F. s. lybica ( Near Eastern wildcat), F. s. ornata ( central Asian...Driscoll, C A ; Menotti-Raymond, M ; Roca, A L ; Hupe, K ; Johnson, W E …
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Journal article
The italian zoological gardens and their role in mammal systematic studies, conservation biology and museum collections
The opportunities offered to scientific research by living mammal collections are generally overlooked in Italy. This paper presents a short historical overview of the scientific investigations done on captive mammals from Italian zoos, especially those concerning taxonomic research. A glimpse of the opportunities offered by zoo specimens for scientific research...Gippoliti, Spartaco ; Kitchener, Andrew C
conservation, zoological gardens, Natural History Museums, and taxonomy
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Journal article
A contribution to the Age-Class Determination of Martes foina Erxleben, 1777 from Turkey (Mammalia: Carnivora)
This study was based on 57 beech marten (Martes foina) specimens collected in Turkey between 1994 and 1998. The specimens were divided into 3 age classes as young, juvenile, and adult on the basis of the morphology of the sagittal and lambdoidal crests, and temporal ridges, relative lengths of the...Albayrak, Irfan ; Özen, Ahmet Selçuk ; Kitchener, Andrew C
skull, Turkey, baculum, and Beech Marten
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Journal article
New cat on the block
Kitchener, Andrew C
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Journal article
Brain size of the lion (Panthera leo) and the tiger (P-tigris): implications for intrageneric phylogeny, intraspecific differences and the effects of captivity
Intraspecific encephalization of the lion and the tiger is investigated for the first time using a very large sample. Using cranial volume as a measure of brain size, the tiger has a larger brain relative to greatest length of skull than the lion, the leopard and the jaguar. The Asian...Yamaguchi, Nobuyuki ; Kitchener, Andrew C ; Gilissen, E ; Macdonald, David W
skull, Panthera pardus, morphology, Carnivora, subspecies, jaguar, cranial volume, leopard, Felidae, and Panthera onca
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Journal article
An archaeological and historical review of the relationship between felids and people.
A review of the archaeological and historical records reveals several lines of evidence that people have had close relationships with felids. Almost 40% of felid species have been tamed on all continents, excluding Europe and Oceania, but only one species was domesticated. However, taming occurred mostly in five felid lineages,...Faure, Eric ; Kitchener, Andrew C
taming, domestication, Felis Silvestris, Felidae, and Roman Empire
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Journal article
Modelling the dynamic biogeography of the wildcat: implications for taxonomy and conservation
There is still no clear consensus on how to relate geographical variation in the morphology and genetics of the globally widespread wildcat Felis silvestris to its taxonomy and systematics. Reconstructing the dynamic biogeography of the wildcat provides insight into how current geographical patterns of morphological and molecular variation may have...Kitchener, Andrew C ; Rees, E.E.
Polytypical species, Dynamic biogeography, Africa, Asia, modelling, Europe, and Felis Silvestris
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Journal article
Taxonomic issues in bears: impacts on conservation in zoos and the wild, and gaps in current knowledge
Taxonomy is essential for underpinning conservation science and action, and the international and national implementation of protective legislation. However, many of the current scientific species and subspecies names for bears have a poor scientific basis. Poor understanding of ursid taxonomy could compromise conservation both in the wild and in captivity;...Kitchener, Andrew C
conservation science, conservation management, bears, and taxonomy
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Journal article
Reconstructing Mammalian Phylogenies: A Detailed Comparison of the Cytochrome b and Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I Mitochondrial Genes
The phylogeny and taxonomy of mammalian species were originally based upon shared or derived morphological characteristics. However, genetic analyses have more recently played an increasingly important role in confirming existing or establishing often radically different mammalian groupings and phylogenies. The two most commonly used genetic loci in species identification are...Kitchener, Andrew C ; Tobe, Shanan S ; Linacre, Adrian
Sequence databases, Animal phylogenetics, Phylogenetic analysis, Sequence alignment, and Mammals
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Journal article
The development and validation of a single SNaPshot multiplex for tiger species and subspecies identification — Implications for forensic purposes
The tiger (Panthera tigris) is currently listed on Appendix I of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora; this affords it the highest level of international protection. To aid in the investigation of alleged illegal trade in tiger body parts and derivatives, molecular...Kitpipit, Thitika ; Tobe, Shanan S ; Kitchener, Andrew C ; Gill, Peter ; Linacre, Adrian
Subspecies, Mitochondrial DNA, SNP, Tiger species, and SNaPshot multiplex kit
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Journal article
Where does the tiger come from? – A robust, molecular technique for simultaneous identification of endangered species and subspecies
The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) monitors the international trade in endangered animal and plant species; a high profile example is the tiger, Panthera tigris. We report on the application of a SNaPshot multiplex technique to simultaneously identify tiger species and...Kitpipit, Thitika ; Tobe, Shanan S ; Kitchener, Andrew C ; Gill, Peter ; Linacre, Adrian
CITES, Tiger, Subspecies, Mitochondrial DNA, SNaPshot, and SNP
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Journal article
Oldest known pantherine skull and evolution of the tiger
The tiger is one of the most iconic extant animals, and its origin and evolution have been intensely debated. Fossils attributable to extant pantherine species-lineages are less than 2 MYA and the earliest tiger fossils are from the Calabrian, Lower Pleistocene. Molecular studies predict a much younger age for the...Mazák, J H ; Christiansen, P ; Kitchener, Andrew C
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Journal article
Geographical variation in and evolutionary history of the Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi) (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) with the description of a new subspecies from Borneo
Recent morphological and molecular studies led to the recognition of two extant species of clouded leopards; Neofelis nebulosa from mainland southeast Asia and Neofelis diardi from the Sunda Islands of Borneo and Sumatra, including the Batu Islands. In addition to these new species-level distinctions, preliminary molecular data suggested a genetic...Wilting, A ; Christiansen, P ; Kitchener, Andrew C ; Kemp, Y J M ; Ambu, L …
Taxonomy, Toba volcanic eruption, Sunda shelf, Pleistocene, Holotype, and Biogeography
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Journal article
A neotype of the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa Griffith 1821)
Recent research has recognised that the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) is, in fact, two separate species, which differ markedly with respect to craniodental and pelage morphology and genomic characters. There is confusion about the origin and inaccuracies in the description of the nominal specimen, and the undisputed lack of a...Christiansen, P ; Kitchener, Andrew C
Craniodental morphology, Pelage morphology, Skin, Neotype, Type locality, Skull and mandible, Neofelis nebulosa, and BM1955.1644
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Journal article
First records of the pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps, in Scotland
The pygmy sperm whale, Kogia breviceps, is a poorly known cetacean species, which has been recorded rarely in the British Isles (Leaper and Evans, 2008). It is an oceanic species that inhabits tropical to warmer temperate waters worldwide (Caldwell and Caldwell, 1989). In the North Atlantic it strands reasonably commonly...Kitchener, Andrew C ; Herman, Jeremy S ; Reid, R J ; Anderson, N
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Journal article
The role of cross-sectional geometry, curvature and limb posture in maintaining equal safety factors: A computed tomography study
The limb bones of an elephant are considered to experience similar peak locomotory stresses as a shrew. "Safety factors" are maintained across the entire range of body masses through a combination of robusticity of long bones, postural variation, and modification of gait. The relative contributions of these variables remain uncertain....Brassey, Charlotte A ; Kitchener, Andrew C ; Withers, P J ; Manning, Phillip L ; Sellers, William I
posture, force, safety factors, cross-sectional geometry, and effective mechanical advantage (EMA)
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Journal article
Locating specimens of extinct tiger (Panthera tigris) subspecies: Javan tiger (P.t. sondaica), Balinese tiger (P.t. balica), and Caspian tiger (P.t. virgata), including previously unpublished specimens
Recent advances in multivariate statistics, and in ancient DNA techniques, have greatly increased understanding of tiger phylogeography. However, regardless of advances in analytical methodology, researchers will continue to need access to specimens for morphological measurements and sampling for genetic analysis. The tiger has become increasingly endangered, and out of the...Yamaguchi, Nobuyuki ; Driscoll, Carlos A ; Werdelin, Lars ; Abramov, Alexei V ; Csorba, Gabor …
museum, Sunda Islands, Indonesia, Central Asia, and conservation
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Journal article
The genetic legacy of the 19th-century decline of the British polecat: evidence for extensive introgression from feral ferrets
In the 19th century, the British polecat suffered a demographic contraction, as a consequence of direct persecution, reaching its lowest population in the years that preceded the First World War. The polecat is now recovering and expanding throughout Britain, but introgressive hybridization with feral ferrets has been reported, which could...Costa, M ; Fernandes, C ; Birks, J D S ; Kitchener, Andrew C ; Santos-Ries, M …
microsatellites, European polecat, Britain, hybridization, Mustela furo, and Mustela putorius
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Journal article
Evidence of the three main clonal Toxoplasma gondii lineages from wild mammalian carnivores in the UK
Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic pathogen defined by three main clonal lineages (types I, II, III), of which type II is most common in Europe. Very few data exist on the prevalence and genotypes of T. gondii in the UK. Wildlife can act as sentinel species for T. gondii genotypes...Burrells, A ; Bartley, P M ; Zimmer, I A ; Roy, S ; Kitchener, Andrew C …
UK, wildlife, carnivores, genotyping, and Toxoplasma gondii
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Journal article
Finite element modelling versus classic beam theory: comparing methods for stress estimation in a morphologically diverse sample of vertebrate long bones
Classic beam theory is frequently used in biomechanics to model the stress behaviour of vertebrate long bones, particularly when creating intraspecific scaling models. Although methodologically straightforward, classic beam theory requires complex irregular bones to be approximated as slender beams, and the errors associated with simplifying complex organic structures to such...Brassey, Charlotte A ; Margetts, L ; Kitchener, Andrew C ; Withers, P J ; Manning, Phillip L …
cross-sectional asymmetry, biomechanics, curvature, Finite element analysis, and beam theory
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Journal article
Detection of Neospora caninum in wild carnivorans in Great Britain
Samples of brain and other tissues were collected from 99 ferrets (Mustela furo), 83 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), 70 European polecats (Mustela putorius), 65 American mink (Neovison vison), 64 Eurasian badgers (Meles meles) and 9 stoats (Mustela erminea), from around Great Britain. DNA was extracted from approximately 1 g of...Bartley, P M ; Wright, S E ; Zimmer, I A ; Roy, S ; Kitchener, Andrew C …
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Journal article
Detecting the elusive Scottish wildcat Felis silvestris silvestris using camera trapping
Population monitoring is important for conservation management but difficult to achieve for rare, cryptic species. Reliable information about the Critically Endangered Scottish wildcat Felis silvestris silvestris is lacking because of difficulties in morphological and genetic identification, resulting from extensive hybridization with feral domestic cats Felis catus. We carried out camera-trap... -
Journal article
Splitting or lumping? A conservation dilemma exemplified by the critically endangered Dama Gazelle (Nanger dama)
Managers of threatened species often face the dilemma of whether to keep populations separate to conserve local adaptations and minimize the risk of outbreeding, or whether to manage populations jointly to reduce loss of genetic diversity and minimise inbreeding. In this study we examine genetic relatedness and diversity in three...Senn, Helen ; Banfield, Lisa ; Wacher, Tim ; Newby, John ; Rabeil, Thomas …
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Journal article
Late Holocene range collapse in a former British seabird species
Aim to determine the taxonomic identity of zooarchaeological gadfly petrel (Pterodroma) specimens from northern Europe, in order to investigate whether an unknown, now-extinct Pterodroma species formerly occurred in this region, or whether extant north-east Atlantic gadfly petrel populations now restricted to the Macaronesian Islands formerly had a much wider Holocene... -
Journal article
Saving the unsavable
Kitchener, Andrew C
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Journal article
Planning tiger recovery: Understanding intraspecific variation for effective conservation
Although significantly more money is spent on the conservation of tigers than on any other threatened species, today only 3200 to 3600 tigers roam the forests of Asia, occupying only 7% of their historical range. Despite the global significance of and interest in tiger conservation, global approaches to plan tiger...Wilting, Andreas ; Courtiol, Alexandre ; Christiansen, P ; Jürgen, Niedballa ; Scharf, Anne K …
Taxonomy, Management Units, Subspecies, One Plan Approach, and Felidae
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Journal article
Remarkable ancient divergences amongst neglected lorisiform primates
Lorisiform primates (Primates: Strepsirrhini: Lorisiformes) represent almost 10% of the living primate species and are widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa and South/South-East Asia; however, their taxonomy, evolutionary history, and biogeography are still poorly understood. In this study we report the largest molecular phylogeny in terms of the number of represented...Pozzi, Luca ; Nekaris, K Anne-Isola ; Perkin, Andrew ; Bearder, Simon K ; Pimley, Elizabeth R …
mitochondrial DNA, cryptic species, Lorisidae, cytochrome b, Africa, Asia, Strepsirrhini, and Galagidae
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Journal article
The taming of the cat
Unlike other domesticated creatures, the house cat contributes little to human survival. Researchers have therefore wondered how and why cats came to live among people. Experts traditionally thought that the Egyptians were the first to domesticate the cat, some 3,600 years ago. But recent genetic and archaeological discoveries indicate that...Driscoll, C A ; Clutton-Brock, Juliet ; Kitchener, Andrew C ; O'Brein, S J
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Journal article
Mapping the spatial configuration of hybridization risk for an endangered population of the European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) in Scotland
The wildcat in Scotland, UK, is currently at risk of extinction because of hybridization with feral domestic cats (ferals) and hybrids (wildcat × domestic cat crosses). Conservation efforts are hampered by limited information on the distribution of these three cat types and the spatial variation in hybridization risk. From January 2010 to...Kilshaw, Kerry ; Montgomery, Robert A ; Campbell, R D ; Hetherington, David A ; Johnson, Paul J …
Camera-trap – Distribution – Felis silvestris silvestris – Hybridization – Occupancy – Wildcat
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Journal article
How to sex Giant otter Pteronura brasiliensis (Gmelin, 1788) cubs
Sexing living neonate mammals may be difficult as external genitalia may be poorly developed and time may be limited for a detailed examination. Four neonate cubs of the Giant otter Pteronura brasiliensis were examined in order to determine a method to distinguish between the sexes. The distance between anal and...Hantke, Georg ; Kitchener, Andrew C
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Journal article
Convex-hull mass estimates of the dodo (Raphus cucullatus): application of a CT-based mass estimation technique
The external appearance of the dodo (Raphus cucullatus, Linnaeus, 1758) has been a source of considerable intrigue, as contemporaneous accounts or depictions are rare. The body mass of the dodo has been particularly contentious, with the flightless pigeon alternatively reconstructed as slim or fat depending upon the skeletal metric used...Brassey, Charlotte A ; O’Mahoney, T G ; Kitchener, Andrew C ; Manning, Phillip L ; Sellers, William I
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Journal article
The scaling of postcranial muscles in cats (Felidae) II: hindlimb and lumbosacral muscles ing of postcranial muscles in cats (Felidae) I: forelimb, cervical, and thoracic muscles
In quadrupeds the musculature of the hindlimbs is expected to be responsible for generating most of the propulsive locomotory forces, as well as contributing to body support by generating vertical forces. In supporting the body, postural changes from crouched to upright limbs are often associated with an increase of body...Cuff, Andrew R ; Sparkes, Emily L ; Randau, Marcelo ; Pierce, Stephanie E ; Kitchener, Andrew C …
locomotion, biomechanics, effective mechanical advantage, mammal, anatomy, and morphometrics
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Journal article
The scaling of postcranial muscles in cats (Felidae) I: forelimb, cervical, and thoracic muscles ing of postcranial muscles in cats (Felidae) I: forelimb, cervical, and thoracic muscles
The body masses of cats (Mammalia, Carnivora, Felidae) span a ~300-fold range from the smallest to largest species. Despite this range, felid musculoskeletal anatomy remains remarkably conservative, including the maintenance of a crouched limb posture at unusually large sizes. The forelimbs in felids are important for body support and other...Cuff, Andrew R ; Sparkes, Emily L ; Randau, Marcelo ; Pierce, Stephanie E ; Kitchener, Andrew C …
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Journal article
Predicted Pleistocene–Holocene range shifts of the tiger (Panthera tigris)
Aim In this article, we modelled the potential range shifts of tiger (Panthera tigris) populations over the Late Pleistocene and Holocene, to provide new insights into the evolutionary history and interconnectivity between populations of this endangered species. Location Asia. Methods We used an ecological niche approach and applied a maximum... -
Journal article
Frank Haes' thylacine
Until recently, the earliest surviving photograph of a thylacine (albeit that of a dead trophy specimen) was from 1869. An earlier photograph, taken in 1864 by Frank Haes of a living thylacine at London Zoo, was known to have existed, but was feared lost or destroyed. This paper describes its...Sleightholme, Stephen R ; Campbell, Cameron R ; Kitchener, Andrew C
Tasmanian tiger, Ronald Campbell Gunn, Thylacine, Thylacinus cynocephalus, Earliest photograph, London Zoo, and Frank Haes
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Journal article
Sexual size dimorphism in musteloids: An anomalous allometric pattern is explained by feeding ecology
Rensch's rule states that sexual size dimorphism (SSD) increases with body size in taxa where males are larger, and decreases when females are larger. The dominant explanation for the trend is currently that competitive advantage for males is greater in larger individuals, whereas female size is constrained by the energetics...Noonan, M J ; Johnson, Paul J ; Kitchener, Andrew C ; Harrington, L A ; Newman, C …
sociality, Musteloidea, diet, Rensch, SSD, resource dispersion, and allometry
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Journal article
Two species of Southeast Asian cats in the genus Catopuma with diverging histories: an island endemic forest specialist and a widespread habitat generalist
Background. The bay cat Catopuma badia is endemic to Borneo, whereas its sister species the Asian golden cat Catopuma temminckii is distributed from the Himalayas and southern China through Indochina, Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra. Based onmorphological data, up to five subspecies of the Asian golden cat have been recognized, but...Patel, R P ; Förster, D W ; Kitchener, Andrew C ; Rayan, M D ; Mohamed, S W …
Toba volcanic eruption, last glacial maximum, Southeast Asia, hybrid capture, next generation sequencing, and Felidae
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Journal article
Environmental enrichment for Killer whales Orcinus orca at zoological institutions: untried and untested
Despite a history in zoological institutions stretching back more than 50 years, with associated improvements in husbandry and breeding, the keeping of Killer whales Orcinus orca in zoos and aquariums has become highly controversial. The recent decision to stop the current breeding programme in the USA does not obviate the...Law, G ; Kitchener, Andrew C ; shaw, mark
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Journal article
The history of taxidermy at National Museums Scotland
Dr Andrew Kitchener charts the history of taxidermy and explores the extraordinary and sometimes inaccurate specimens produced in t eh 18th and 19th centuries.Kitchener, Andrew C
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Journal article
A revised taxonomy of the Felidae. The final report of the Cat Classification Task Force of the IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group
The main task of the IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group is the continuous review of the conservation status of all cat species and subspecies according to The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species process. A critical subject in this task is the systematic classification of the cat family, the Felidae....Kitchener, Andrew C ; Breitenmoser-Würsten, C ; Eizirik, E ; Gentry, A ; Werdelin, Lars …
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Journal article
A fossil protein chimera; difficulties in discriminating dinosaur peptide sequences from modern cross-contamination
A decade ago, reports that organic-rich soft tissue survived from dinosaur fossils were apparently supported by proteomics-derived sequence information of exceptionally well-preserved bone. This initial claim to the sequencing of endogenous collagen peptides from an approximately 68 Myr Tyrannosaurus rex fossil was highly controversial, largely on the grounds of potential...Buckley, M ; Warwood, S ; van Dongen, B ; Kitchener, Andrew C ; Manning, Phillip L
palaeoproteomics, Tyrannosaurus, ancient collagen, dinosaur protein, Brachylophosaurus, and ostrich
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Journal article
Saving the mountain bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci): assessment of the genetic status of captive bongos as a source for genetic reinforcement of wild populations
Fewer than 140 individuals of the rare and critically endangered mountain bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci) remain in the wild. This population has eroded genetic diversity, with only two haplotypes detected with mitochondrial DNA markers. The genetic diversity of mountain bongos from the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) was assessed for...O’Donoghue, P ; Gruber, Karl ; Bingaman Lackey, Laurie ; Kitchener, Andrew C ; O’Donoghue, Emily …
microsatellites, bongo, genetic augmentation, One Plan Approach, and Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci
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Journal article
Threatened but understudied: supporting conservation by understanding the genetic structure of the flat-headed cat
The flat-headed cat (Prionailurus planiceps) is a wetland specialist, currently facing habitat loss on a serious scale due to massive destruction of lowland forests and wetlands in Southeast Asia. Despite its ‘endangered’ status in the IUCN Red List, there has virtually been no investigation on the population structure nor on...Patel, R P ; Lenz, D ; Kitchener, Andrew C ; Fickel, J ; Förster, D W …
Flat-headed cat Habitat specialist Hybrid capture Mitogenome MtDNA
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Journal article
Making sense of the senses across species boundaries: designing the Animal Senses gallery at National Museums Scotland
As one of a suite of natural science galleries in the National Museum of Scotland, Animal Senses presents a comprehensive overview of how animals have evolved senses as they have adapted to different ecological niches in order to find food or avoid predation. Using different sensory channels, they also have...Kitchener, Andrew C
animals, Senses, interpretation, exhibition, and communication
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Journal article
Laparoscopic-assisted insertion of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt in a rescued Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus Thibetanus) in Laos
A 3-yr-old Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), weighing 68 kg, underwent a laparoscopic-assisted placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt for hydrocephalus in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Rescued as a young cub with a notably domed head, the bear's condition had deteriorated with age, but euthanasia was not a viable option...Pizzi, Romain ; Cracknell, Jonathan Mark ; Kitchener, Andrew C ; Broadis, Nev ; Laughlin, Denise …
laparoscopy, surgery, Bear, wildlife, hydrocephalus, and endoscopy
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Journal article
Radiographic assessment of the skeletons of Dolly and other clones finds no abnormal osteoarthritis
Our recent report detailing the health status of cloned sheep concluded that the animals had aged normally. This is in stark contrast to reports on Dolly (first animal cloned from adult cells) whose diagnoses of osteoarthritis (OA) at 5½ years of age led to considerable scientific concern and media debate...Corr, S A ; Gardner, D S ; Langley-Hobbs, S ; Ness, M G ; Kitchener, Andrew C …
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Journal article
Rensching cats and dogs: feeding ecology and fecundity trends explain variation in the allometry of sexual size dimorphism
The tendency for sexual size dimorphism (SSD) to increase with body mass in taxa where males are larger, and to decrease when females are larger, is known as Rensch's rule. In mammals, where the trend occurs, it is believed to be the result of a competitive advantage for larger males,...Johnson, P J ; Noonan, M J ; Kitchener, Andrew C ; Harrington, L A ; Newman, C …
dimorphism, Canidae, allometry, diet, resource dispersion, and Felidae
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Journal article
An assessment of the genetic diversity of the founders of the European captive population of Asian lion (Panthera leo leo), using microsatellite markers and studbook analysis
A European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) was established in the early 1990s, in order to manage a captive population of Asian lions (Panthera leo leo) within European zoos. The founders of this population comprised of nine individuals that originated from a captive population in India. During 2007–2009, 57 lions were...Atkinson, Kirsty E ; Kitchener, Andrew C ; Tobe, Shanan S ; O’Donoghue, P
Genetic variation, Microsatellite, Asian lion, Captive breeding, and Panthera leo
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Journal article
Long-term increase in secondary exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides in European polecats Mustela putorius in Great Britain
As a result of legal protection and population recovery, European polecats (Mustela putorius) in Great Britain are expanding into areas associated with greater usage of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs). We analysed polecat livers collected from road casualties from 2013 to 2016 for residues of five SGARs. We related variation in...Sainsbury, Katherine A ; Shore, Richard F ; Schofield, Henry ; Croose, Elizabeth ; Pereria, M Gloria …
Bromadiolone, Polecat, Brodifacoum, Secondary exposure, Rodenticides, and Difenacoum
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Journal article
Grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) in Norwegian waters 2000 years ago
The modern distribution of the grey whale (Eschrichtius robustus) is restricted to the North Pacific Ocean, but during the Holocene it occurred also in the North Atlantic Ocean, perhaps as recently as the 17th century. In the western Atlantic, subfossil bones of 12 specimens of grey whale have previously been...Hufthammer, Anne Karin ; Arntsen, Lena ; Kitchener, Andrew C ; Buckley, M
Ancient proteins, Marine mammal bone identification, and Species identification by collagen fingerprinting
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Journal article
Synchronous diversification of Sulawesi's iconic artiodactyls driven by recent geological events
The high degree of endemism on Sulawesi has previously been suggested to have vicariant origins, dating back to 40 Ma. Recent studies, however, suggest that much of Sulawesi's fauna assembled over the last 15 Myr. Here, we test the hypothesis that more recent uplift of previously submerged portions of land...Frantz, Laurent A F ; Rudzinski, Anna ; Nugraha, Abang Mansyursyah Surya ; Evin, Allowen ; Burton, James …
geology, Wallacea, evolution, and biogeography
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Journal article
Testing hypotheses for the function of the carnivoran baculum using finite-element analysis
The high degree of endemism on Sulawesi has previously been suggested to have vicariant origins, dating back to 40 Ma. Recent studies, however, suggest that much of Sulawesi's fauna assembled over the last 15 Myr. Here, we test the hypothesis that more recent uplift of previously submerged portions of land...Brassey, Charlotte A ; Gardiner, James G ; Kitchener, Andrew C
biomechanics, copulation, baculum, finite-element analysis, genitalia, and intromission
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Journal article
Population fragmentation leads to morpho-functional variation in British red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris)
It is well-known that population fragmentation and isolation can lead to rapid morphological and functional divergence, with the effect being particularly well-documented in rodents. Here, we investigated whether such a phenomenon could be identified in the Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), which was once widespread across the majority of Great...Cox, Philip G ; Morris, Philip J R ; Kitchener, Andrew C
Morphological evolution, masticatory biomechanics, Sciuridae, geometric morphometrics, and mechanical advantage
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Journal article
Applying genomic data in wildlife monitoring: Development guidelines for genotyping degraded samples with reduced single nucleotide polymorphism panels
The genomic era has led to an unprecedented increase in the availability of genome‐wide data for a broad range of taxa. Wildlife management strives to make use of these vast resources to enable refined genetic assessments that enhance biodiversity conservation. However, as new genomic platforms emerge, problems remain in adapting...von Thaden, Alina ; Nowak , Carsten ; Tiesmeyer, Annika ; Reiners, Tobias E ; Lyons, Leslie A …
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Journal article
Range-wide patterns of human-mediated hybridisation in European wildcats
Hybridisation between wild taxa and their domestic congeners is a significant conservation issue. Domestic species frequently outnumber their wild relatives in population size and distribution and may therefore genetically swamp the native species. The European wildcat (Felis silvestris) has been shown to hybridise with domestic cats (Felis catus). Previously suggested...Tiesmeyer, Annika ; Ramos, Luana ; Lucas, José Manuel ; Steyer, Katharina ; Alves, Paulo C …
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Journal article
Diets of European polecat Mustela putorius in Great Britain during fifty years of population recovery
Following nineteenth-century declines, polecats Mustela putorius are recolonising Great Britain. Polecat diet relates to two potential risks to recovery. First, rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus, which are important prey for polecats, have experienced extreme population fluctuations, with near extirpation due to myxomatosis in the 1950s, recovery in 1960s–1990s and declines in 1990s–2010s....Sainsbury, Katherine A ; Shore, Richard F ; Schofield, Henry ; Croose, Elizabeth ; Hantke, Georg …
Polecat, Diet, Species recovery, Rabbits, and Mustela putorius
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Journal article
A mitochondrial genetic divergence proxy predicts the reproductive compatibility of mammalian hybrids
Numerous pairs of evolutionarily divergent mammalian species have been shown to produce hybrid offspring. In some cases, F1 hybrids are able to produce F2s through matings with F1s. In other instances, the hybrids are only able to produce offspring themselves through backcrosses with a parent species owing to unisexual sterility...Allen, Richard ; Ryan, Hannah ; Davis, Brian W ; King, Charlotte ; Frantz, Laurent …
evolution, gene flow, genetic distance, and hybrid
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Journal article
Skull morphology diverges between urban and rural populations of red foxes mirroring patterns of domestication and macroevolution
Human activity is drastically altering the habitat use of natural populations. This has been documented as a driver of phenotypic divergence in a number of wild animal populations. Here, we show that urban and rural populations of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from London and surrounding boroughs are divergent in skull...Parsons, K J ; Rigg, Anders ; Conith, A J ; Kitchener, Andrew C ; Harris, S …
Canidae , domestication, developmental bias , contemporary evolution, morphometrics, and urban ecology
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Journal article
Investigating infectious disease threats to the recovery of the European polecat in Britain
The European polecat (Mustela putorius) almost became extinct in Britain in the early twentieth century, but populations are now recovering. As seen in other endangered carnivore populations, disease is one potential threat to recovery. This study assessed exposure of wild polecats (n = 149) to three, multi-host pathogens which could limit reproduction...Heald, Kari-Anne ; Millins, Caroline ; Kitchener, Andrew C ; Banyard, Ashley C ; Hantke, Georg …
Mustela putorius , Leptospira , Toxoplasma gondii, and Canine distemper virus
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Journal article
Morphological and functional variation between isolated populations of British red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris)
Isolation due to habitat fragmentation can lead to morphological and functional variation between populations, with the effect being well documented in rodents. Here, we investigated whether such morphological variation could be identified between British populations of the Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris). This species was once widespread across Great Britain,... -
Journal article
First record of True’s beaked whale, Mesoplodon mirus, in Britain
A female beaked whale, Family Ziphiidae, was reported as stranded on 29th January 2020 at Kearvaig Bay, Sutherland, Scotland. Examination of its skull confirms that this is the first recorded stranding of True’s beaked whale, Mesoplodon mirus, in Britain.Kitchener, Andrew C ; Georg , Hantke ; Herman, Jeremy S ; ten Doeschate, Mariel ; Brownlow, Andrew C
skull, stranding, Ziphiidae, Mesoplodon mirusy, and pathology
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Journal article
Small carnivorans, museums and zoos
Small carnivorans are generally poorly represented in zoos, probably because they are small, mostly nocturnal and solitary hunters. However, there is limited knowledge about the ecology and behaviour of a large number of these and many species are threatened with extinction or their conservation status is poorly known or even...Kitchener, Andrew C
museums , zoo, small carnivoran , research , taxonomy , conservation , collection, anatomy , and biobanking
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Journal article
Consequences of the misidentification of museum specimens: the taxonomic status of Canis lupaster soudanicus
Researchers are increasingly using museum collections for taxonomy, systematics, phylogenetics, and faunal analyses, and they assume that taxonomic identifications on museum labels are correct. However, identifications may be incorrect or out of date, which could result in false conclusions from subsequent research. A recent geometric morphometrics analysis of skulls of...Kitchener, Andrew C ; Machado, Fabio A ; Hayssen, Virginia ; Moehlman, Patricia D ; Viranta, Suvi
museum, Lupulella adusta, misidentification, Canis lupaster, and taxonomy
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Journal article
Intraspecific macroscopic digestive anatomy of ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta), including a comparison of frozen and formalin-stored specimens
Digestive tract measurements are often considered species specific, but little information exists on the degree to which they change during ontogeny within a species. Additionally, access to anatomical material from nondomestic species is often limited, with fixed tissues possibly representing the only available source, though the degree to which this...Clauss, Marcus ; Trümpler, Jelscha ; Ackermans, Nicole L ; Kitchener, Andrew C ; Hantke, Georg …
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Journal article
Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis in captive gorillas (Gorilla Spp.): Appearance and diagnosis
Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is a disorder of unknown cause, in which new bone forms in soft tissues attached to the skeleton. Originally described in humans, in whom it is quite common, it is usually asymptomatic. New bone may completely bridge across joints, especially in the spine. However, it...Livingstone, Brian ; Kitchener, Andrew C ; Hull, Gordon ; Schwarz, Tobias ; Vijayanathan, Sanjay …
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Journal article
Rapid evolution of the primate larynx?
Tissue vibrations in the larynx produce most sounds that comprise vocal communication in mammals. Larynx morphology is thus predicted to be a key target for selection, particularly in species with highly developed vocal communication systems. Here, we present a novel database of digitally modeled scanned larynges from 55 different mammalian...Bowling, Daniel L ; Dunn , Jacob C ; Smaers, Jeroen B ; Garcia, Maxime ; Sato , Asha …
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Journal article
Machine learning ATR-FTIR spectroscopy data for the screening of collagen for ZooMS analysis and mtDNA in archaeological bone
Faunal remains from archaeological sites allow for the identification of animal species that enables the better understanding of the relationships between humans and animals, not only from their morphological information, but also from the ancient biomolecules (lipids, proteins, and DNA) preserved in these remains for thousands and even millions of... -
Journal article
A kingdom in decline: Holocene range contraction of the lion (Panthera leo) modelled with global environmental stratification
Aim We use ecological niche models and environmental stratification of palaeoclimate to reconstruct the changing range of the lion (Panthera leo) during the late Pleistocene and Holocene. Location The modern (early 21st century) range of the lion extends from southern Africa to the western Indian Subcontinent, yet through the... -
Journal article
The Scientific Name of the Aardwolf is Proteles cristatus
The aardwolf is one of the four members of the family Hyaenidae (order Carnivora). It is referred to as either Proteles cristatus or Proteles cristata in the scientific literature and on animal diversity websites, but only one of these names is correct. In this short note, we seek to rectify...Werdelin, Lars ; Kitchener, Andrew C ; Abramov, Alexei ; Veron, Géraldine ; Do Linh San, Emmanuel
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Journal article
Dental Anomaly Causing Severe Maxillary Lesions in a Male Sowerby’s Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon bidens Sowerby, 1804)
Sowerby’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens) is a poorly known cetacean species, and much of our current information comes from stranded animals. Herein, we describe a dental anomaly in an adult male stranded in 2019 in the Moray Firth, Scotland. The mandibular teeth (tusks) had erupted so their tips converged towards...Plint, Tessa ; Hantke, Georg ; Schwarz, Tobias ; Kitchener, Andrew C
beaked whale, dental anomaly, maxillary lesions, Mesoplodon bidens, and pathology
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Journal article
Improved diagnosis of foot osteoarthritis in elephants ( elephas maximus, loxodonta africana) using stereoradiography
Diagnosis of foot disease in elephants is challenging. Owing to their large size, the available diagnostic tools and the expense of imaging are diagnostically limiting. Stereoradiography is the preparation of paired radiographs that form a three-dimensional (3D) image when viewed stereoscopically. Clinicians and veterinary students graded osteoarthritis in the feet...Bentley, Charlotte E ; Cracknell, Jonathan M ; Kitchener, Andrew C ; Martinez Pereira, Yolanda ; Pizzi, Romain
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Journal article
Selection preferences for animal species used in bone-tool-manufacturing strategies in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Animal symbolism is a prominent feature of many human societies globally. In some cases, these symbolic attributes manifest in the technological domain, influencing the decision to use the bones of certain animals and not others for tool manufacture. In southern Africa, animals feature prominently in the cosmogenic narratives of both...Bradfield, Justin ; Kitchener, Andrew C ; Buckley, Michael
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Journal article
African and Asian leopards are highly differentiated at the genomic level
Leopards are the only big cats still widely distributed across the continents of Africa and Asia. They occur in a wide range of habitats and are often found in close proximity to humans. But despite their ubiquity, leopard phylogeography and population history have not yet been studied with genomic tools....Paijmans, Johanna L A ; Axel, Barlow ; Becker, Matthew S ; Cahill, James ; Fickel, Joerns …
genomes, Panthera pardus, population genomics, historical samples, leopards, and out-of-Africa
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Journal article
Variation in predicted COVID-19 risk among lemurs and lorises
The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which in humans leads to the disease COVID-19, has caused global disruption and more than 2 million fatalities since it first emerged in late 2019. As we write, infection rates are at their highest point globally and are rising extremely rapidly in some areas due to...Melin, Amanda D ; Orkin, Joseph D ; Janiak, Mareike C ; Valenzeula, Alejandro ; Kuderna, Lukas …