Identification of selected wild felids using hair morphology and forensically informative nucleotide sequencing (FINS): Wildlife forensics prospective

Abstract

We describe the identification of the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), jungle cat (Felis chaus) fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinusis), wild cat (Felis silvestris) and caracal (Caracal caracal) using combined approach of morphological and molecular based analysis. Three mitochondrial genes [12S rRNA, 16S rRNA and cytochrome b (Cyt b)] and hair characteristics (cuticle and medulla patterns) were analysed and variation was observed among few selected wild felids. We did not find conclusive morphological difference among these examined felids. We observed maximum variation in Cyt b in comparison to12S rRNA and 16S rRNA genes. Therefore, despite poor hair morphological difference, forensically informative nucleotide sequencing (FINS) exhibited unambiguous variation among the examined felids. We suggest the use of FINS for differentiating biological samples of closely related wild felids to avoid any false identification of species in illicit trade. Furthermore, the data generated from the present work would help in strengthening the DNA database of Indian small cats.

Keywords: Forensically informative nucleotide sequencing (FINS); Microscopy; Wild felids; Wildlife forensics.