ON THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION - D - THE LEOPARD (Panthera pardus)

[Pckts]

https://www.futurity.org/leopards-geneti...2563412-2/

African and Asian leopards are more genetically differentiated from one another than polar bears and brown bears.

"Researchers mapped the genomes of 26 leopards which account for eight of nine living subspecies. The team sourced some of the genetic material from leopards in the Natural History Museum’s collection."

"Genome analysis indicates that current differentiations in leopard subspecies just don’t hold water. While nine subspecies have been officially identified, the study shows that, for example, Indian and Sri Lankan leopards are so closely related that they could be considered as a unified evolutionary significant unit."

“The answer must now be a resounding no when it comes to African and Asian populations. There is a risk of reducing genetic diversity when crossing a leopard that specializes in living in hot deserts, for example, with another that has adapted to frigid mountain conditions,” Havmøller says.

“You are likely to create offspring that are not well adapted to either habitat. On the other hand, our results demonstrate that there might be a solid foundation for interbreeding some of the more genetically similar Asian subspecies.” Reply