Genetic evidence for the origin of the agrimi goat (Capra aegagrus cretica)

Abstract

The agrimi goat Capra aegagrus cretica is unique to Crete and its offshore islands. It has been identi®ed as a sub-species of the wild bezoar goat Capra aegagrus aegagrus Erxleben, 1777, which it closely resembles in horn shape, body form and coloration. This classi®cation has been disputed by some researchers who claim that the agrimi are feral goats, derived from early domestic stock brought to the island by the ®rst Neolithic settlers. In order to clarify this issue, DNA analyses (cytochrome b and D loop sequences) were carried out on tissue of live and skeletonized agrimi and compared to sequences of wild and domestic caprines. Results conclusively show the agrimi to be a feral animal, that clades with domestic goats (Capra hircus) rather than with wild Asiatic bezoar. This study demonstrates that morphometric criteria do not necessarily re¯ect genetic af®nities, and that the taxonomic classi®cation of agrimi should be revised.

The Origin and Genetic Status of Insular Caprines in the Eastern Mediterranean: A Case Study of Free-Ranging Goats (Capra aegagrus cretica) on Crete

“…3c and 4a, b). The d-loop data are not presented in this paper, but can be obtained from Bar-Gal et al (34,35) upon request.…”

“…According to Schultze-Westrum (63), all the Sporades and Cycladic goats, including those on Youra and Antimilos, represent feral animals, whereas all Cretan free-living goats were classified as a subspecies of wild goat endemic to Crete. In an on-line report on taxonomy of caprinae, the IUCN/SSC Caprinae specialist group (31) concluded that "the Cretan agrimi (C. a. cretica) is a domestic form and should not be considered a subspecies of wild goat" -a finding supported by other researchers (9,11,17,35,39,43,46).…”

“…A maximum of 21 samples, representing different animals, were brought to Israel. Using ancient DNA techniques (27,36), we extracted DNA from a total of 12 samples: 7 from Theodorou Island and 5 from Samaria Gorge (34,35).…”

“…PCR amplification was performed with different sets of primers and under conditions specific for each reaction. DNA from blood was amplified in a volume of 50 μl through 25 cycles by using overlapping primers as described in (35). The DNA extracted from bones, teeth and skins was amplified in a volume of 25 μl through 40 cycles.…”

“…The DNA extracted from bones, teeth and skins was amplified in a volume of 25 μl through 40 cycles. Only two sets of primers amplified successfully in most individual [primer set 86-92 and G11-G12; see (35)]. The main PCR programme was as follows: 95°C for 10 min, 94°C for 30 s, 90 s annealing at 46-52°C (as set for each set of primers), 90 s elongation at 72°C.…”