The separation of the species was discovered by scientists at the US National Cancer Institute near Washington DC.
"Genetic research results clearly indicate that the clouded leopards of Borneo should be considered a separate species," said Dr Stephen O'Brien, head of the Institute's Laboratory of Genomic Diversity.
"DNA tests highlighted around 40 differences between the two species."
Tell tails
Supporting evidence came from examination of fur patterns. Leopards from Borneo and Sumatra have small "clouds" with many distinct spots within them, grey and dark fur, and twin stripes along their backs.
Their mainland cousins have large cloud markings on their skin with fewer, often faint, spots within the cloud markings, and are lighter and more tawny in colour.
"The moment we started comparing the skins of the mainland clouded leopard and the leopard found on Borneo, it was clear we were comparing two different species," said Dr Andrew Kitchener from the National Museums of Scotland.
"It's incredible that no-one has ever noticed these differences."
WWF, which maintains a large conservation operation on Borneo, estimates there are between 5,000 and 11,000 clouded leopards on the island, with a further 3,000 to 7,000 on Sumatra.
"The fact that Borneo's top predator is now considered a separate species further emphasises the importance of conserving the 'Heart of Borneo'," said WWF's Stuart Chapman, co-ordinator of a project seeking to preserve the island's wildlife.
The three governments with territory on the island - Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei - signed an agreement earlier this year pledging to protect the "Heart of Borneo", 200,000 square kilometres of rainforest in the middle of the island thought to be particularly high in biodiversity.
The evidence is spotty at best
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What annoys me is that they're studying the skins, which means that they have more than likely killed one or two in order to compare the patterns, right?
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What annoys me is that they're studying the skins, which means that they have more than likely killed one or two in order to compare the patterns, right?
It's possible that they just found a recently deceased one whilst out and about looking. Or, the more likely scenario: The locals needed some meat, so capped the cat in the arse and brought it back with them, where it gets spotted by some scientists who then buy it off them...
EBC: Northeners, Huh! What are they good for?! Absolutely nothing!
Cybertron, Justice league...MM, HAB SDN City Watch: Sergeant Detritus
Days Unstabbed, Unabused, Unassualted and Unwavedatwithabutchersknife: 0
What annoys me is that they're studying the skins, which means that they have more than likely killed one or two in order to compare the patterns, right?
It's possible that they just found a recently deceased one whilst out and about looking. Or, the more likely scenario: The locals needed some meat, so capped the cat in the arse and brought it back with them, where it gets spotted by some scientists who then buy it off them...
Either way, one more dead cat, when there's so few of them
Nitram, slightly high on cough syrup: Do you know you're beautiful?
Me: Nope, that's why I have you around to tell me.
Nitram: You -are- beautiful. Anyone tries to tell you otherwise kill them.
"A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP" -- Leonard Nimoy, last Tweet
As much as I dislike taking samples of wild animals, sometimes it is necessary in order to do the very research that saves them. It's an investment in the future of the species. There are also other methods of acquiring skins. Considering how many animal skins are confiscated from poachers, you'd hope they'd go to some use, such as research, rather than sit around to rot in some storehouse.
"The rest of the poem plays upon that pun. On the contrary, says Catullus, although my verses are soft (molliculi ac parum pudici in line 8, reversing the play on words), they can arouse even limp old men. Should Furius and Aurelius have any remaining doubts about Catullus' virility, he offers to fuck them anally and orally to prove otherwise." - Catullus 16, Wikipedia
The article mentions a large WWF conservation presence on Borneo, which indicates that they are actively looking after the wildlife there, and may well have access to the animals through the process of tagging and conservation control.
I don't see any reason to believe that any of these lepoards were killed specifically for study or acquiring DNA samples.
LadyTevar wrote:What annoys me is that they're studying the skins, which means that they have more than likely killed one or two in order to compare the patterns, right?
I interpreted it as watching them through binoculars and taking notes, which was the procudure in an African big cat documentary I saw once. Noting fur patterns was how they kept track of the movements of different individuals. At worst, I think it'd be capture-and-release.
I thought genetic incompatibility determined the separation of species, not the phenotype. After all, great danes and dachsunds are the same species. By this logic, that's a lie.
"If one needed proof that a guitar was more than wood and string, that a song was more than notes and words, and that a man could be more than a name and a few faded pictures, then Robert Johnson’s recordings were all one could ask for."
wolveraptor wrote:I thought genetic incompatibility determined the separation of species, not the phenotype. After all, great danes and dachsunds are the same species. By this logic, that's a lie.
Fur patterns was merely supporting evidence. "DNA tests highlighted around 40 differences between the two species."
Now we must try to CROSSBREED those leopards with normal leopards and see the seed of their blasphemous progeny! =D
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Or it may be that they have the furs from before... you know like in a museum. There's lots of animals that were stuffed in the 50s that are still in excellent shape.
"
- PeZook