Advertisement

Mammalian Biology

, Volume 71, Issue 5, pp 268–287 | Cite as

A taxonomic revision of the tigers (Panthera tigris) of Southeast Asia

  • Ji H. MazákEmail author
  • Colin P. Groves
Original investigation
First Online:

Abstract

The taxonomic affinity of Southeast Asian tigers is re-investigated. Specimens of four traditionally recognized subspecies are examined using various craniological methods, including multivariate craniometric and phenetic analysis. Sumatran tigers differ absolutely (100%) from the geographically neighbouring mainland form P.t. corbetti; the Javanese tiger is also 100% distinguishable from the Sumatran. They are therefore regarded as two distinct species (P. sumatrae, P. sondaica) under the Phylogenetic Species Concept (PSC). The Bali tiger is classified as a subspecies of the Javanese tiger, Panthera sondaica balica.

Key words

Panthera tigris taxonomy skull Southeast Asia 

Taxonomische Revision der Tiger (Panthera tigris) Südostasiens

Zusammenfassung

Unsere vergleichenden kraniometrischen und kraniologischen Untersuchungen an südostasiatischen Tigern zeigen, dass die Stichproben des Festlands, von Sumatra und von Java/Bali absolut voneinander zu unterscheiden sind. Entsprechend dem phylogenetischen Artkonzept sind drei valide Arten zu benennen: Panthera tigris, P. sumatrae und P. sondaica. Der Balitiger kann als Unterart des Javatigers angesehen werden.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Brongersma, L. D. (1935): Notes on some recent and fossil cats, chiefly from the Malay Archipelago. Zoöl. Mededeelingen 18, 1–89.Google Scholar
  2. Brongersma, L. D. (1937): Notes on fossil and prehistoric remains of the ‘Felidae’ from Java and Sumatra. Comptes Rendus 12th Congress Internationale de Zoolologie, Lisbonne. 1935. Pp. 1855–1865.Google Scholar
  3. Cracraft, J. (1983): Species concepts and speciation analysis. Curr. Ornithol. 1, 159–187.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. Cracraft, J. (1997): Species concepts in systematic and conservation biology - an ornithological viewpoint. In: Species the Units of Biodiversity. Ed. by M.F. Claridge, H. A. Dawah and M.R. Wilson. Systematics Association Special Vol. Series 54. London: Chapman and Hall. Pp. 325–339.Google Scholar
  5. Cracraft, J.; Feinstein, J.; Vaughn, J.; Helm- Bychowski, K. (1998): Sorting out tigers (Panthera tigris): mitochondrial sequences, nuclear inserts, systematics and conservation genetics. Anim. Conserv. 1, 139–150.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. Goebel, A. M.; Whitmore, D. H. (1987): Use of electrophoretic data in the reevaluation of tiger systematics. In: Tigers of the World: The Biology, Biopolitics, Management, and Conservation of an Endangered Species, Ed. by R. L. Tilson and U. S. Seal. Park Ridge, NJ: Noyes Publications. Pp. 36–50.Google Scholar
  7. Groves, C. P. (1992): How old are subspecies? A tiger’s eye view of human evolution. Archaeol. Oceania 27, 153–160.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. Hemmer, H. (1967): Wohin gehört ‘Felis’ palaeo-sinensis (Zdansky, 1924) in systematischer Hinsicht? Neues Jahrb. Geol. Paläontologie 129, 83–96.Google Scholar
  9. Hemmer, H. (1969): Zur Stellung des Tigers (Panthera tigris) der Insel Bali. Z. Säugetierkunde 34, 216–223.Google Scholar
  10. Hemmer, H. (1971): Fossil mammals of Java. II. Zur Fossilgeschichte des Tigers (Panthera tigris (L.)) in Java. Kon. Ned. Akad. Wetenschappen Series B 74, 35–52.Google Scholar
  11. Hemmer, H. (1987): The phylogeny of the tiger (Panthera tigris) In: Tigers of the World: The Biology, Biopolitics, Management, and Conservation of an Endangered Species, Ed. by R. L. Tilson and U. S. Seal. Park Ridge, NJ: Noyes Publications. Pp. 28–35.Google Scholar
  12. Herrington, S. (1987): Subspecies and the conservation of Panthera tigris: preserving genetic heterogeneity In: Tigers of the World: The Biology, Biopolitics, Management, and Conservation of an Endangered Species, Ed. by R. L. Tilson and U. S. Seal. Park Ridge, NJ: Noyes Publications. Pp. 51–61.Google Scholar
  13. Kirk, G. (1994): Insel-Tiger Panthera tigris (Linnaeus, 1758). Säugetierkundl. Mitt. 35, 151–176.Google Scholar
  14. Kitchener, A. C. (1999): Tiger distribution, pheno-typic variation and conservation issues. In: Riding the Tiger, Tiger Conservation in Human-dominated Landscapes, Ed. by J. Seiden-sticker, S. Christie and P. Jackson. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Pp. 19–39.Google Scholar
  15. Kitchener, A. C.; Dugmore, A. J. (2000): Biogeo-graphical change in the tiger Panthera tigris. Anim. Conserv. 3, 113–124.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. Kock, D. (1995): Zur Benennung des Tigers Panthera tigris L. auf Sunda - Inseln. Säuge-tierkundl. Mitt. 36, 123–126.Google Scholar
  17. Luo, S. J.; Kim, J. H.; Johnson, W. E.; van der Walt, L.; Martenson, J.; Yuhki, N.; Miquelle, D. G.; Uphyrkina, O.; Goodrich, J. M.; Quigley, H. B.; Tilson, R.; Brady, G.; Martelli, P.; Subramaniam, V.; McDougal, C.; Hean, S.; Huang, S. Q.; Pan, W. S.; Karanth, U.; Sunquist, M.; Smith, J. L. D.; O’Brien, S. (2004): Phylogeography and genetic ancestry of tigers (Panthera tigris). PLoS Biol. 2, 2275–2293.Google Scholar
  18. Mazák, J. H. (2004): On the sexual dimorphism in the skull of the tiger (Panthera tigris). Mamm. biol. 69, 392–400.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  19. Mazák, V. (1968): Nouvelle sous-espece de tigre provenant de l’Asie due Sud-Est. Mammalia 32, 104–112.Google Scholar
  20. Mazák, V. (1976): On the Bali tiger, Panthera tigris balica (Schwarz, 1912). Vestník Ceskoslovenské Spolecnosti Zoologické 40, 179–195.Google Scholar
  21. Mazák, V. (1979): Der Tiger Panthera tigris. 2nd ed. Neue Brehm Bücherei 356. Wittenberg Lutherstadt: A. Ziemsen Verlag.Google Scholar
  22. Mazák, V. (1981): Panthera tigris. Mam. Spec. 152, 1–8.Google Scholar
  23. Mazák, V.; Groves, C. P.; van Bree, P. J. H. (1978): On a skin and skull of the Bali tiger and a list of preserved specimens of Panthera tigris balica (Schwarz, 1912). Z. Säugetierkunde 43, 108–113.Google Scholar
  24. Newman, A.; Bush, M.; Wildt, D. E.; van Dam, M.; Frankenhuis, M.; Simmons, L.; Phillips, L.; O’Brien, S. J. (1985): Biochemical genetic variation in eight endangered feline species. J. Mammalogy 66, 256–270.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  25. Nowell, K.; Jackson, P. (1996): Wild Cats: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN.Google Scholar
  26. O’Brien, S. J.; Mayr, E. (1991): Bureaucratic mischief: Recognizing endangered species and subspecies. Science 251, 1187–1188.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  27. O’Brien, S. J.; Collier, G.; Benveniste, R.; Nash, W.; Newman, A.; Simonson, J.; Eichelberger, M.; Seal, U.; Janssen, D.; Bush, M.; Wildt, D. (1987): Setting the molecular clock in Felidae: the great cats Panthera. In: Tigers of the World: The Biology, Biopolitics, Management, and Conservation of an Endangered Species, Ed. By R. L. Tilson and U. S. Seal. Park Ridge, NJ: Noyes Publications. Pp. 36–50.Google Scholar
  28. Pocock, R. I. (1929): Tigers. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 33, 505–541.Google Scholar
  29. Schwarz, E. (1912): Notes on Malay tigers, with description of a new form from Bali. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. Series 8, 10, 324–326.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  30. Schwarz, E. (1913): Der Bali-Tiger. Ber. Senckenberg. Naturforsch. Gesellsch. Frankfurt a. M. 44, 70–73.Google Scholar
  31. Seidensticker, J. (1999): Large carnivores and the consequences of habitat insularization: ecology and conservation of tigers in Indonesia and Bangladesh. In: Cats of the World: Biology, Conservation, and Management. Ed. by S. D. Miller and D. D. Everett. Washington, DC: National Wildlife Federation. Pp. 1–41.Google Scholar
  32. Shepherd, C. R.; Magnus, N. (2004): Nowhere to hide: The trade in Sumatran tiger. Traffic Southeast Asia, Unit 9-3 A, 3rd Floor, Jalan S523/11 Taman SEA, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.Google Scholar
  33. Sody, H. J. V. (1932): The Balinese tiger, Panthera tigris balica (Schwarz). J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 36, 233–235.Google Scholar
  34. Sody, H. J. V. (1949): Notes on some Primates, Carnivora, and the Babirusa from the Indo- Malayan and Indo-Australian regions. Treubia, Buitenzorg 20, 121–190.Google Scholar
  35. Wayne, R. K.; Benveniste, R. E.; Janczewski, N.; O’ Brien, S. J. (1989): Molecular and biochemical evolution of the Carnivora. In: Carnivore Behavior, Ecology and Evolution. Ed. by J. L. Gittleman. Ithaca, NY: Comstock Publishing Associates, Cornell University Press. Pp. 465–494.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  36. Wentzel, J.; Stephens, J. C.; Johnson, W.; Menotti-Raymond, M.; Pecon-Slattery, J.; Yuhki, N.; Carrington, M.; Quigley, H. B.; Miquelle, D. G.; Tilson, R.; Manansang, J.; Brady, G.; Lu, Z.; Pan, W. S.; Huang, S. Q.; Johnston, L.; Sunquist, M.; Karanth, K. U.; O’Brien, S. (1999): Subspecies of tigers: molecular assessment using ‘voucher specimens’ of geographically traceable individuals. In: Riding the Tiger, Tiger conservation in Human-dominateda Landscapes. Ed. by J. Seidensticker, S. Christie and P. Jackson. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Pp. 40–49.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Deutsche Gesellschaft für Säugetierkunde 2006

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Shanghai Science and Technology Museum (formerly Shanghai Natural History Museum)ShanghaiP.R. China
  2. 2.School of Archaeology and AnthropologyAustralian National UniversityCanberraAustralia

Personalised recommendations

Cite article

Buy options