Cranial morphology of five felids: Acinonyx jubatus, Panthera onca, Panthera pardus, Puma concolor, Uncia uncia

Cranial morphology of five felids: Acinonyx jubatus, Panthera onca, Panthera pardus, Puma concolor, Uncia uncia

Sims M.E.

P. 157-170

Felid skulls often appear as evidence in wildlife forensic casework at the National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory (NFWFL). Five species commonly seen in U.S.-imported trophy shipments include cheetah, jaguar, leopard, puma, and snow leopard. Because these species are given different levels of protection under federal, state, and international law, an effective prosecution requires species-level identification. There is limited comparative morphological information available to identify these skulls to species when country of origin is unknown. The purpose of the project was twofold: 1) to research species-specific characteristics that will differentiate five species of medium-sized felids based on skull morphology and 2) to develop identification aids to help wildlife law enforcement officers distinguish mid-size cat skulls. A visual comparison of qualitative non-metric features, such as the shape of the ectotympanic process and the expression of canine grooves, is sufficient to distinguish the five species. A flowchart and identification guide were developed to assist law enforcement officers in identifications when measuring devices cannot be used, especially when conducting undercover investigations.DOI: 10.15298/rusjtheriol.11.2.05

Литература
  • Christiansen P. & Adolfssen J.S. 2005. Bite forces, canine strength and skull allometry in carnivores (Mammalia, Carnivora) // Journal of Zoology (London). Vol.266. P.133-151.
  • CITES. 2004. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. 2004, March 22. Report of CITES activities by the United States since the 46th meeting of the standing committee. . Accessed 2004 March 28.
  • Currier M. 1983. Felis concolor // Mammalian Species. No.200. P.1-7.
  • De Oliveira T.G. 1998a. Leopardus wiedii // Mammalian Species. No.579. P.1-6.
  • De Oliveira T.G. 1998b. Herpailurus yagouaroundi // Mammalian Species. No.578. P.1-6.
  • Emmons L.H. 1987. Comparative feeding ecology of felids in a neotropical rainforest // Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. Vol.20. P.271-283.
  • Ewer R.F. 1973. The Carnivores. New York: Cornell University Press. 484 p.
  • Garcia-Perea R. 1994. The pampas cat group (Genus Lynchailurus Severtzov, 1858) (Carnivora: Felidae), a systematic and biogeographic review // American Museum Novitates. No.3096. P.1-35.
  • Garcia-Perea R. 2002. Andean mountain cat, Oreailurus jacobita: Morphological description and comparison with other felines from the Altiplano // Journal of Mammalogy. Vol.83. No.1. P.110-124.
  • Hemmer H. 1972. Uncia uncia // Mammalian Species. No.20. P.1-5.
  • Hillson S. 1990. Teeth. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 376 p.
  • Holliday J. 2007. Phylogeny and Character Change in the Feloid Carnivora. PhD Dissertation. Florida State University College of Arts and Sciences.
  • Hunter L. 2011. Carnivores of the World. Princeton: Princeton University Press. 240 p.
  • Lamerichs G. 1985. Morfologische studie van de hoektanden bij katachtigen. Dissertation, s.n. Zoölogisch instituut. Leuven: University of Leuven, Belgium. 117 p.
  • Lariviere S. & Walton L.R. 1997. Lynx rufus // Mammalian Species. No.563. P.1-8.
  • Larsen S.E. 1997. Taxonomic re-evaluation of the jaguar // Zoo Biology. Vol.16. P.107-120.
  • Lekagul B. & McNeely J.A. 1988. Mammals of Thailand. Bangkok: Association for the Conservation of Wildlife, Saha Karn Bhaet Co. 758 p.
  • Merriam J.C. & Stock C. 1932. The Felidae of Rancho la Brea. Washington DC: Carnegie Institute of Washington Publication. No.422. 232 p.
  • Murray J.L. & Gardner G.L.1997. Leopardus pardalis // Mammalian Species. No.548. P.1-10.
  • Nelson E.W. & Goldman E.A. 1933. Revision of the jaguars // Journal of Mammalogy. Vol.14. P.221-240.
  • Pocock R.I. 1916. The structure of auditory bulla in existing species of Felidae // Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Ser.8. Vol.28. P.326-334.
  • Robbins C. 1997. Wildlife and plant trade and the role of CITES: challenges for the 21st century // Vance N.C. & Thomas J. (eds.). Special Forest Products: Biodiversity Meets the Marketplace. General Technical Report WO-GTR-63. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. P.146-158.
  • Salles L.O. 1992. Felid phylogenetics: extant taxa and skull morphology (Felidae, Aeluroidea) // American Museum Novitates. No.3047. 67 p.
  • Schmid E. 1940. Variations-statisische Untersuchungen am Gebiss pleistozaner und rezenter Leoparden und anderer Feliden // Zeitschrift fur Saugetierkunde. Bd.15. P.1-179.
  • Seymour K. 1989. Panthera onca // Mammalian Species. No.340. P.1-9.
  • Seymour K. 1993. Size change in North American Quaternary jaguars // Martin R.A. & Barnosky A.D. (eds.). Morphological Change in Quaternary Mammals of North America. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. P.343-371.
  • Seymour K. 1999. Taxonomy, Morphology, Paleontology and Phylogeny of the South American Small Cats (Mammalia: Felidae). PhD Dissertation. Toronto: University of Toronto. 929 p. Available from: UMI Dissertation Services, Ann Arbor, MI.
  • Sicuro F.L. & Oliveira L.F.B. 2011. Skull morphology and functionality of extant Felidae (Mammalia: Carnivora): a phylogenetic and evolutionary perspective // Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. Vol.161. P.414-462.
  • Sims M.E. 2005. Identification of Mid-size Cat Skulls. Identification Guides for Wildlife Law Enforcement No. 7. USFWS, National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory, Ashland, OR // http://www.lab.fws.gov/idnotes/IDG7_ CatSkulls.pdf.
  • Todd N.B. 1966. Metrical and non-metrical variation in the skulls of Gir lions // Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. Vol.62. No.3. P.1-14.
  • Tumlison R. 1987. Felis lynx // Mammalian Species. No.269. P.1-8.
  • Von Den Driesch A. 1976. A Guide to the Measurement of Animal Bones from Archaeological Sites. Cambridge: Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University. 136 p.
  • Werdelin L. 1983. Morphological patterns in the skulls of cats // Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. Vol.19. P.375-391.
  • Werdelin L. 1985. Small Pleistocene felines of North America // Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Vol.5. No.3. P.194-210.
  • Wilkins L., Arias-Reveron J.M., Stith B., Roelke M.E. & Belden R.C. 1997. The Florida panther Puma concolor coryi: a morphological investigation of the subspecies with a comparison to other North and South American cougars // Bulletin of the Florida Museum of Natural History. Vol.40. No.3. P.221-269.
  • Young S. & Goldman E.A. 1946. The Puma: Mysterious American Cat. Toronto: General Publishing Company. 358 p.