Collaborators
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An investigation into the taxonomy of the Malabar Civet, Viverra civettina. R. Nandini, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, India 560012. [email protected] •The Malabar Civet, Viverra civettina, is one of two species of small carnivores Collaborators worldwide that is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List, and is Dr Uma Ramakrishnan described as endemic to the lowland evergreen forests of the Western Ghats. National Centre for Biological Sciences •However, this species has never been sighted with certainty in the wild and Dr Divya Mudappa knowledge of its ecology comes from two reports both over 60 years old. Nature Conservation Foundation •6 skins of the species are deposited in various museums, and have all traded Dr Carlos Fernandes hands before reaching their current destinations, with their primary origins being Lisbon University, Portugal unknown. At least 4 are thought to have been of individuals from captivity, and 2 Dr C Radhakrishnan & Dr JK De were obtained from hunters within Kerala. Zoological Survey of India (Nandini and Mudappa •A recent review The Malabar Civet (top) has been the 2010) summarised the diagnostic subject of numerous field surveys since the characteristics of the Malabar Civet and 1980s. This flyer (left) was produced by NG George, Calicut University, as part of one of provided a critical account of the persisting the earliest field surveys for the species. uncertainties in the taxonomy and ecology of the species, current conservation status, and potential threats. Progress •If the Malabar Civet is indeed a valid species it is important to determine its closest Molecular Analysis relatives and its evolutionary origins before •A combination of skins and skulls of five of the Malabar Civet samples have conservation plans can be drawn up. been sampled and molecular techniques have been applied to extract genetic information from them. Figure 1: Locations of collections and reported sightings of the Malabar Civet (Viverra civettina) •Material from related specimens as well as unidentified civets from South India across the Western Ghats and lowland forests of are also being used. Scats and skins from related species of civets are used to Kerala and Karnataka. Source: Nandini and Mudappa 2010. standardize procedures. •Specific protocols and over 10 primers have been developed and tested to extract DNA from museum material. We have had moderate success with Objectives obtaining DNA and further work is required before any conclusions can be •Establish the taxonomic identity of the six skins of the Malabar Civet and their reached. relation to the potential sister species, the Large Spotted Civet Viverra megaspila, using molecular information. a) b) Figure 3: Topologies indicating the possible outcomes of the •Quantify morphometric characteristics of the skulls and skins of the Malabar molecular analysis. The Malabar Civet and the related species of Viverra. Civet will be compared to the other species in the genus •Investigate the origin of the specimens by tracing the source of the individual Viverra - the Large spotted civet skins and skulls in collections. (LSC), the Large Indian Civet (LIC), the Malay Civet (MYC) and the nearest outgroup - the Methods Small Indian Civet (SIC). •Molecular techniques: Collection of specimens, extraction of genetic material from source, sequencing and analysis. •Morphometrics: Geometric morphometrics techniques (analysis of landmarks and curves) to determine shape variation between the Malabar Civet and its Morphometric Analysis closest relatives. •Skins and skulls of the Malabar Civet and related species of civets have been •Examination of literature and museum and archival records, and interviews with photographed under standardised conditions. curators to determine sources of Malabar Civet skins and skulls. •Preliminary analysis has been conducted on skins and skulls but further sampling of specimens outside India is required before statistically significant Figure 2: a) Malabar Civet Viverra civettina (ZSI Calicut), b) Large-spotted Civet Viverra megaspila results can be generated. (Natural History Museum, London), c) Large Indian Civet Viverra zibetha, d) Small Indian Civet Viverricula indica. a) b) c) •Characteristic features of skins are scored by two independent observers. Further, in an attempt to incorporate quantitative assessment of differences between skins, specific regions of the skins are isolated and analysed by pattern recognition code modified specifically for this purpose. d) •Specific landmarks on skulls are identified based on previous studies of carnivores in general and civets in particular, and the programs tpsDIG2 and MorphoJ are being used for this analysis. Further reading Acknowledgements • Nandini R. and Mudappa D. (2010) Mystery or myth: a review of history and conservation status of the • Critical Ecosystems Partnership Foundation & Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment Malabar Civet Viverra civettina Blyth, 1862. Small Carnivore Conservation, 43: 47-59. • Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai • Kurup G.U. (1987) The rediscovery of the Malabar civet, Viverra megaspila civettina Blyth in India. Cheetal, • Calicut University, Kozhikode 28(2), 1-4. • Chennai Government Museum, Chennai • Rao S., Ashraf N. V. K. and Nixon A. M. A. (2007) Search for the Malabar Civet Viverra civettina in Karnataka • Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore and Kerala, India, 2006–2007. Small Carnivore Conservation 37: 6–10. • NCBS and members of Lab 3-NCBS • Anindya Sinha, K Parthasarathy, Robin Vijayan, Shomita Mukherjee, TR Shankar Raman, Arundhati Das, Pooja Gupta .