The Diversity in the Genus Canis Challenges Conservation Biology: A Review of Available Data on Asian Wolves
Taxa belonging to the Genus Canis can challenge taxonomists because species boundaries and distribution ranges are often gradual. Species delineation within Canis is currently not based on consistent criteria, and is hampered by geographical bias and lack of taxonomic research. But a consistent taxo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.782528/full |
| _version_ | 1817991315073269760 |
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| author | Geraldine Werhahn Geraldine Werhahn Helen Senn David W. Macdonald David W. Macdonald Claudio Sillero-Zubiri Claudio Sillero-Zubiri Claudio Sillero-Zubiri |
| author_facet | Geraldine Werhahn Geraldine Werhahn Helen Senn David W. Macdonald David W. Macdonald Claudio Sillero-Zubiri Claudio Sillero-Zubiri Claudio Sillero-Zubiri |
| author_sort | Geraldine Werhahn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Taxa belonging to the Genus Canis can challenge taxonomists because species boundaries and distribution ranges are often gradual. Species delineation within Canis is currently not based on consistent criteria, and is hampered by geographical bias and lack of taxonomic research. But a consistent taxonomy is critical, given its importance for assigning legal protection, conservation priorities, and financial resources. We carried out a qualitative review of the major wolf lineages so far identified from Asia from historical to contemporary time and considered relevant morphological, ecological, and genetic evidence. We present full mitochondrial phylogenies and genetic distances between these lineages. This review aims to summarize the available data on contemporary Asian wolf lineages within the context of the larger phylogenetic Canis group and to work toward a taxonomy that is consistent within the Canidae. We found support for the presence and taxon eligibility of Holarctic gray, Himalayan/Tibetan, Indian, and Arabian wolves in Asia and recommend their recognition at the taxonomic levels consistent within the group. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T01:11:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f8a81ede1b614d20a6ce11d9987e43f5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T01:11:43Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-f8a81ede1b614d20a6ce11d9987e43f52022-12-22T02:21:03ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2022-04-011010.3389/fevo.2022.782528782528The Diversity in the Genus Canis Challenges Conservation Biology: A Review of Available Data on Asian WolvesGeraldine Werhahn0Geraldine Werhahn1Helen Senn2David W. Macdonald3David W. Macdonald4Claudio Sillero-Zubiri5Claudio Sillero-Zubiri6Claudio Sillero-Zubiri7Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Tubney, United KingdomInternational Union for the Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC) Canid Specialist Group, Oxford, United KingdomWildGenes Laboratory, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Edinburgh, United KingdomWildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Tubney, United KingdomInternational Union for the Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC) Canid Specialist Group, Oxford, United KingdomWildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Tubney, United KingdomInternational Union for the Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC) Canid Specialist Group, Oxford, United KingdomThe Born Free Foundation, Horsham, United KingdomTaxa belonging to the Genus Canis can challenge taxonomists because species boundaries and distribution ranges are often gradual. Species delineation within Canis is currently not based on consistent criteria, and is hampered by geographical bias and lack of taxonomic research. But a consistent taxonomy is critical, given its importance for assigning legal protection, conservation priorities, and financial resources. We carried out a qualitative review of the major wolf lineages so far identified from Asia from historical to contemporary time and considered relevant morphological, ecological, and genetic evidence. We present full mitochondrial phylogenies and genetic distances between these lineages. This review aims to summarize the available data on contemporary Asian wolf lineages within the context of the larger phylogenetic Canis group and to work toward a taxonomy that is consistent within the Canidae. We found support for the presence and taxon eligibility of Holarctic gray, Himalayan/Tibetan, Indian, and Arabian wolves in Asia and recommend their recognition at the taxonomic levels consistent within the group.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.782528/fullArabian wolfCanis lupusCanis lupus arabsCanis lupus chancoCanis lupus pallipesHimalayan/Tibetan wolf |
| spellingShingle | Geraldine Werhahn Geraldine Werhahn Helen Senn David W. Macdonald David W. Macdonald Claudio Sillero-Zubiri Claudio Sillero-Zubiri Claudio Sillero-Zubiri The Diversity in the Genus Canis Challenges Conservation Biology: A Review of Available Data on Asian Wolves Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution Arabian wolf Canis lupus Canis lupus arabs Canis lupus chanco Canis lupus pallipes Himalayan/Tibetan wolf |
| title | The Diversity in the Genus Canis Challenges Conservation Biology: A Review of Available Data on Asian Wolves |
| title_full | The Diversity in the Genus Canis Challenges Conservation Biology: A Review of Available Data on Asian Wolves |
| title_fullStr | The Diversity in the Genus Canis Challenges Conservation Biology: A Review of Available Data on Asian Wolves |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Diversity in the Genus Canis Challenges Conservation Biology: A Review of Available Data on Asian Wolves |
| title_short | The Diversity in the Genus Canis Challenges Conservation Biology: A Review of Available Data on Asian Wolves |
| title_sort | diversity in the genus canis challenges conservation biology a review of available data on asian wolves |
| topic | Arabian wolf Canis lupus Canis lupus arabs Canis lupus chanco Canis lupus pallipes Himalayan/Tibetan wolf |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2022.782528/full |
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