Indian Wolf Among World’s Most Endangered and Distinct Wolves

[UngulateNerd92]

Scientists Sequence Indian Wolf Genome for 1st Time

The Indian wolf could be far more endangered than previously recognized, according to a study from the University of California, Davis, and the scientists who sequenced the Indian wolf’s genome for the first time.

The findings, published in the journal Molecular Ecology, reveal the Indian wolf to be one of the world’s most endangered and evolutionarily distinct gray wolf populations. The study indicates that Indian wolves could represent the most ancient surviving lineage of wolves.

The Indian wolf is restricted to lowland India and Pakistan, where its grassland habitat is threatened primarily by human encroachment and land conversion.

“Wolves are one of the last remaining large carnivores in Pakistan, and many of India’s large carnivores are endangered,” said lead author Lauren Hennelly, a doctoral student with the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine’s Mammalian Ecology Conservation Unit. “I hope that knowing they are so unique and found only there will inspire local people and scientists to learn more about conserving these wolves and grassland habitats.”

Indian Wolf Among World’s Most Endangered and Distinct Wolves

 

[J I N X]

quoting the author from a facebook comments conversation we had

"Gray wolves in the Northern Area of Pakistan fall into the main gray wolf lineage, instead of the more ancient Tibetan/ Himalayan wolf lineage, based from its mitochondrial DNA"

"Recent wolf samples from the northern area of Pakistan do show the gray wolves being more related to wolves on the Central Asian steppe, rather than the more divergent Tibetan wolves, confirming the Sharma et al. findings"

"The Indian lineage in India and parts of Pakistan form the second most ancient wolf lineage, following the Tibetan wolf lineage. This more divergent and ancestral Indian wolf lineage seems to be found in the lowland regions of the plains of Pakistan, but not in the northern Sulieman range (like Waziristan) where the wolves there are more related to the Eurasian Steppe wolves, based from the mitochondria"

"Its a mystery though what is going on with gray wolves on the Potowar plateau (if there are any left) and Baluchistan. The Sulaiman range may also possibly be a contact zone between the divergent and isolated Indian lineage and the widespread "Holarctic" lineage"

 

[UngulateNerd92]

quoting the author from a facebook comments conversation we had

"Gray wolves in the Northern Area of Pakistan fall into the main gray wolf lineage, instead of the more ancient Tibetan/ Himalayan wolf lineage, based from its mitochondrial DNA"

"Recent wolf samples from the northern area of Pakistan do show the gray wolves being more related to wolves on the Central Asian steppe, rather than the more divergent Tibetan wolves, confirming the Sharma et al. findings"

"The Indian lineage in India and parts of Pakistan form the second most ancient wolf lineage, following the Tibetan wolf lineage. This more divergent and ancestral Indian wolf lineage seems to be found in the lowland regions of the plains of Pakistan, but not in the northern Sulieman range (like Waziristan) where the wolves there are more related to the Eurasian Steppe wolves, based from the mitochondria"

"Its a mystery though what is going on with gray wolves on the Potowar plateau (if there are any left) and Baluchistan. The Sulaiman range may also possibly be a contact zone between the divergent and isolated Indian lineage and the widespread "Holarctic" lineage"

Wow! Very interesting information. Thank you for sharing it with us.