Antler tine homologies and cervid systematics: A review of past and present controversies with special emphasis on<i>Elaphurus davidianus</i>

Heckeberg, Nicola S.; Zachos, Frank E.; Kierdorf, Uwe

doi:10.1002/ar.24956

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 131 publications

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“…Recent phylogenetic analysis has revealed an ancestral divergence of the common ancestors of the Axis and Rucervus sp. groups from the main phylogenetic lineage of the tribe cervini, which later radiated in the genus Cervus, Rusa, Elaphurus and Eld's deer (Heckeberg et al 2022). Based on its ancestral divergence, Eld's deer is phylogenetically more closely related to the genus Cervus than to Rucervus, and the morphological similarities with R. duvaucelii and R. schomburgki characterize convergence rather than phylogenetic relatedness (Ghazi et al 2021).…”

Section: Taxonomymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Analyses of mitochondrial data have placed Père David's deer (Elaphurus davidianus) as the sister taxon to Eld's deer (Heckeberg et al 2022). Recent studies, four based on genetics and another on antler morphology, have suggested that Eld's deer is actually more closely related to Père David's deer than to species of the genus Rucervus (Hassanin et al 2012;Turvey et al 2017;Heckeberg 2020;Samejima and Matsuoka 2020;Ghazi et al 2021).…”

Section: Taxonomymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Review: The status of the endangered Eld’s deer (Rucervus eldii) and conservation actions in Thailand

Sukmasuang

Bhumpakphan²,

McShea³

et al. 2022

Biodiversitas

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Abstract. Sukmasuang R, Bhumpakphan N, McShea WJ, Wajjwalku W, Siriaroonrat B, Kamolnoranart S, Yindee M, Nipanan T, Maleehuan B, Khanthathongsakuldee K, Pongcharoen C, Sutummawong N, Thomas W. 2022. Review: The status of the endangered Eld’s deer (Rucervus eldii) and conservation actions in Thailand. Biodiversitas 23: 5020-5034. The endangered Eld’s deer (Rucervus eldii) once roamed throughout the plains and dry forests of South and Southeast Asia. However, due to heavy poaching and habitat loss, the population has declined drastically and has disappeared from many of its historical ranges. They are presently found in some natural areas of India, Myanmar, Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Hainan Island, China. Thailand used to be the distribution center of the species, where two subspecies, the R.e. thamin and R.e. siamensis, were found. However, both subspecies have disappeared from the natural resources of Thailand since the early 1990s. Many conservation programs have been conducted to save this species in Thailand, such as captive breeding and reintroduction. Our literature review revealed that currently, more than a thousand R.e. thamin are housed in over 20 wildlife breeding facilities and 109 R.e. siamensis in 8 breeding facilities. Based on the workshops on conservation and restoration of the species, suitable genetic selection can create populations suitable for return to protected forest areas in Thailand. At present, more than 554 R.e. thamin have been released back into the wild in 8 wildlife sanctuaries, 3 national parks and 1 non-hunting area and 27 R.e. siamensis were released in 2 wildlife sanctuaries in Thailand. The follow-up of the deer in the release areas was flawed. Major knowledge gaps include recent trends in the population dynamics, habitat selection, diet items and threats. Identifying and restoring suitable dry forest habitats for reintroduction are also keys for species conservation.

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Section: Taxonomymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Taxonomymentioning

confidence: 99%

Review: The status of the endangered Eld’s deer (Rucervus eldii) and conservation actions in Thailand

Sukmasuang

Bhumpakphan²,

McShea³

et al. 2022

Biodiversitas

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A thorny taxonomic issue of Quaternary deer (Cervidae: Mammalia) from the South American Highlands resolved based on the recognition of a paleopathology

Avilla,

Román‐Carrión,

Rotti

2023

J Quaternary Science

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The diversity of South American deer genera during the Quaternary is considered one of the greatest in the world. However, this was established during the beginning of the twentieth century, when the recognition of new extinct deer taxa was based only on differences in antler morphology. Thus, South American extinct deer taxa need a detailed taxonomic revision, and this is the case of the Andean deer genera Agalmaceros and Charitoceros. First, both taxa are diagnosed by the presence of thorns in their antlers. Consequently, by taxonomic priority, Agalmaceros is a senior synonym of Charitoceros. Second, we recognize here that the thorns of the antlers of Agalmaceros are the symptom of a pathology that also affects some extant deer. Excluding the thorns of the antlers, the antler of Agalmaceros is identical to that of Odocoileus virginianus, indicating that Agalmaceros is a junior synonym to this extant deer. The recognition of epizootic hemorrhagic disease as the possible cause for the thorny antlers of Andean O. virginianus and the ample record of this affecting antlers in deer from the tropical Andes suggests that an epidemic occurred in this region in the Late Pleistocene. Before describing a new taxon, taxonomists must exhaust all possibilities to explain morphological variations. In this regard, this contribution provides an interesting, important and weakly explored area in paleontology, namely taxonomic revision under a paleopathology context. With the taxonomic invalidation of Agalmaceros and Charitoceros proposed here, the diversity of South American deer genera during the Pleistocene is poorer than previously established and includes 11 taxa – seven extant and four extinct.

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Variation of antlers in individual red deer (Cervus elaphus) stags: repeatability, age and side effects

2023

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Antlers are formed anew each year to realise an optimal relationship between their size and weight and the physical body condition in Cervidae. This results in the objective to match fighting abilities with size and mechanical performance of the antlers, as well as to advertise these correlated abilities to other males and females. The resulting variation in individual antler characteristics from year to year can show considerable differences. To characterise and understand these differences is important in hunting, game management and deer breeding, as well as potentially to assess the habitat quality. However, relatively few traits of the antler have been scientifically tested for this purpose, and only a few studies were conducted on the same individual in free-ranging red deer over the years. The objective of the present study was to quantify the influence of the individual (repeatability), the age and the site on the expression of 125 antler characteristics. For this purpose, we collected 35 stags with an average of about 10 consecutive antlers per individual (confirmed by genetic analysis), a total of 355 antlers. The antlers were scanned 3-dimensionally and measured semi-automatically. Numbers, lengths, distances, circumferences, bending, curvatures, angles, forms and CIC (International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation) characteristics were compiled and evaluated in a generalised linear mixed model adapted to the distribution of the characteristics. The complete model explained 1.6 to 83% of character variation. Mean repeatability of the characteristics varied between 2.7 and 74.4%. The stags’ age explained 0 to 36.4%, and the side explained 0 to 2.5% of the variability. Some characteristics of burr, signet, beam and the lower tines reached the highest repeatability; the highest variability was found in characteristics of the crown. Values of 11 features that are frequently used in other studies corresponded very well with the present study. However, some features reached higher repeatability every year, whereas others varied more closely with age. Such characteristics might be selectively included into further research or practical applications to increase informative value.

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Antler tine homologies and cervid systematics: A review of past and present controversies with special emphasis onElaphurus davidianus

Cited by 6 publications

References 131 publications

Review: The status of the endangered Eld’s deer (Rucervus eldii) and conservation actions in Thailand

Review: The status of the endangered Eld’s deer (Rucervus eldii) and conservation actions in Thailand

A thorny taxonomic issue of Quaternary deer (Cervidae: Mammalia) from the South American Highlands resolved based on the recognition of a paleopathology

Variation of antlers in individual red deer (Cervus elaphus) stags: repeatability, age and side effects

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