Camera traps reveal coat colour variation in an isolated population of golden jackals

Shameer, Thekke Thumbath; Bhavana, Pudupet Madhavan; Mohan, Govindarajan; Easa, Pulikunnel Syed; Sanil, Raveendranathanpillai

doi:10.18520/cs/v122/i6/738-741

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…Several studies on interspecific hybridisation in mammals have shown that the effects of admixture and subsequent back-crossings with one of the parental ancestors can be unpredictable, sometimes leading to the appearance of unique atypical morphologies 23 , 24 . For example, in Croatia, anomalous phenotypes recently documented in some golden jackals—displaying partial dog-like morphology—have been genetically confirmed to be a consequence of anthropogenic hybridisation with dogs 25 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, in Croatia, anomalous phenotypes recently documented in some golden jackals—displaying partial dog-like morphology—have been genetically confirmed to be a consequence of anthropogenic hybridisation with dogs 25 . Another case of a jackal showing a peculiar coat colour pattern was recently reported in India 23 , yet its origin remains unknown since it was not possible to ascertain whether the coat colour pattern could be attributable to hybridisation or de-novo mutations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Products of these genes modulate the relative synthesis of eumelanin and pheomelanin, interact with each other and with the melanocyte inducing transcription factor ( MITF ), which is characterised by particular mutations associated with leucism and other multiple pathologies 39 – 41 . However, it is still unclear whether coat colour variation is the result of an initial human selection for tameness, or if it is a result of a causal genetic mutation that became fixed in a wild population generating an appearance less feared by humans 23 , 24 . Whatever the reason for these variations in coat colour, it is still widely assumed that this is the first trait that appeared in domesticated mammals 42 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Possible origins and implications of atypical morphologies and domestication-like traits in wild golden jackals (Canis aureus)

Barash

Preiss-Bloom

Machluf

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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Deciphering the origins of phenotypic variations in natural animal populations is a challenging topic for evolutionary and conservation biologists. Atypical morphologies in mammals are usually attributed to interspecific hybridisation or de-novo mutations. Here we report the case of four golden jackals (Canis aureus), that were observed during a camera-trapping wildlife survey in Northern Israel, displaying anomalous morphological traits, such as white patches, an upturned tail, and long thick fur which resemble features of domesticated mammals. Another individual was culled under permit and was genetically and morphologically examined. Paternal and nuclear genetic profiles, as well as geometric morphometric data, identified this individual as a golden jackal rather than a recent dog/wolf-jackal hybrid. Its maternal haplotype suggested past introgression of African wolf (Canis lupaster) mitochondrial DNA, as previously documented in other jackals from Israel. When viewed in the context of the jackal as an overabundant species in Israel, the rural nature of the surveyed area, the abundance of anthropogenic waste, and molecular and morphological findings, the possibility of an individual presenting incipient stages of domestication should also be considered.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Possible origins and implications of atypical morphologies and domestication-like traits in wild golden jackals (Canis aureus)

Barash

Preiss-Bloom

Machluf

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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“…Our camera traps evidenced that human disturbance is high in this wetland. Recent studies in wetlands show that jackals exhibit bimodal activity with one of the two peaks in the afternoon (Shankar et al 2020;Shameer et al 2022). Jackals are highly adaptive mammals and are commonly recorded from wetlands (Khan et al 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal segregation of small feline predators and canids in the estuarine mangrove delta of Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary, India

Shameer¹,

Shankar²,

Salaria³

et al. 2023

Zoology and Ecology

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A camera trap study was conducted in the mangrove of Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary, the eastern coast of India, to understand the assemblage, temporal segregation and dial activity pattern of small and medium-sized mammals. Forty-one pairs of passive infrared camera traps were deployed and monitored for 30 consecutive days, making a total of 1,230 trap days effort. The study reveals that the jackals accounted for 40.5%, while fishing cats and jungle cats accounted for 6.09% and 2.42% of all recorded animals, respectively. The analysis of the relative abundance index shows that the jackal is the most abundant mammal in the sanctuary (36.74). Free-ranging dogs, humans and cattle were recorded mostly during the daytime. The jackal showed a higher temporal overlap with the fishing cat (0.76, 95% CI (0.59–0.93)) and the jungle cat (0.72, 95% CI (0.62–0.82)). The jungle cat showed peak activity at dawn, while fishing cats showed peak activity at dusk. Both species temporally overlapped with the bimodal activity of the jackal. Moreover, the available prey may be shared between the three dominant predatory species by minimising the competition (effective resource partitioning). The anthropogenic threats can be a reason for a comparatively lower abundance of the fishing cat, and necessary steps are sought to protect this ecosystem.

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“…Erik Ziman described breeding experiments with poodles and jackals 30 , and well-documented evidence for human-made dog–jackal hybrids are the Sulimov dogs 31 , 32 . Recently in India, camera trap pictures have shown golden jackals showing dog-like pelt colouration in urban areas 33 , which could be due to possible hybridization. One documented instance of hybridization in the wild was confirmed by genetic studies, which was described by Galov et al in 34 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

White and other fur colourations and hybridization in golden jackals (Canis aureus) in the Carpathian basin

Ninausz,

Fehér,

Csányi

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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The golden jackal (Canis aureus) is a reoccurring species in the centre of the Carpathian basin, in Hungary. In total, 31 golden jackal tissue samples were collected, from 8 white-coated, 2 black-coated and one mottled animal across Hungary. Sequences and fragment length polymorphisms were studied for white colour (MC1R), and for black coat colouration (CBD103). In each white animal, the most widespread mutation causing white fur colour in dogs in homozygous form was detected. Three animals were found to carry the mutation in heterozygous form. The two black golden jackals were heterozygous for the 3 bp deletion in CBD103 that mutation for black coat colouration in dogs, and one of them also carried the mutation causing white fur. None of the white animals showed signs of hybridization, but both the black and the mottled coloured individuals were found to be hybrids based on genetic testing. Kinship was found three times, twice between white animals, and once between a white animal and an agouti animal carrying the mutation of white coat. Our results confirm the findings that golden jackal–dog hybrids may occur without human intervention, and the detected mutation causing white fur colour in golden jackals could possibly be due to an early hybridization event.

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Camera traps reveal coat colour variation in an isolated population of golden jackals

Cited by 4 publications

References 0 publications

Possible origins and implications of atypical morphologies and domestication-like traits in wild golden jackals (Canis aureus)

Possible origins and implications of atypical morphologies and domestication-like traits in wild golden jackals (Canis aureus)

Temporal segregation of small feline predators and canids in the estuarine mangrove delta of Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary, India

White and other fur colourations and hybridization in golden jackals (Canis aureus) in the Carpathian basin

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