The size of the Barbary lion

[Matias]

@LonePredator 

It was thought that any changes observed in the craniometric characteristics of Asian lions (harvested after the beginning of the 19th century) should, primarily, be observed as a result of inbreeding. However, read this enlightening study very atencion: 

Divided infraorbital foramen in the lion (Panthera leo): Its implications for colonisation history, population bottlenecks, and conservation of the Asian lion (P. l. persica)

The divided infraorbital foramen is not a “uniquely geographical feature, nor is it particular to the Panthera Leo family”; this occurrence may be an interspecific characteristic in some specimens of the broad genus Panthera and, in Asian lions, it is not dominant in percentage among the samples collected. The study clearly notes indicating the percentage decrease after the skulls obtained from 1950 onwards.

Citar: Wrote:

Split infraorbital foramen occurred in 45% (5/11) of Indian lion canyons collected in the 19th century, which rose to 67% (10/15) in the early 20th century (pre-1950s), including those without recorded collection dates, although they were likely collected during this period, as indicated by their museum registration numbers, but this dropped to 38% (13/29) after 1950.

Thus, it could be said that the divided foramen would tend to decrease evolutionarily. It peaked in the early 20th century, possibly due to the genetic bottleneck - a critical period that the species passed. The collection of very recent samples (last 20 years) could definitively confirm this approach. A good question to ask is: are there any advantages to having a divided infraorbital foramen? Mutations can be positive, neutral or deleterious, it remains to be seen, in the physiology of the lion, if this characteristic has any benefit to the species. As far as other species are concerned: tigers (found in 0.3% - out of 1 in 304) and cave lions (1 in 8) seem to demonstrate that the gene or genes that shape this trait work in some “random” way. ”.

In the case of the Barbary Lion, no skull was observed with a divided infraorbital foramen. And in African lions the prevalence was in specimens that lived especially in a relatively small area in central Tanzania to the east of the DRC, which allows us to conjecture that this physical characteristic can be determined by a gene shared by the whole species, kept active or inactive by unknown engines. Not forgetting that the placement occurs only on one side of the faces. In Asiatic lion some specimens have them on both sides. Let us also remember that a small percentage of African lions have the notorious longitudinal skin fold along the belly. And some Asians don't have them in compliance with the rule either.

Perhaps you are seeing unusual facial features without understanding that different facial features are a natural and desired feature. They are phenotypic characteristics within the natural variables of the species.

When the Asiatic lion group was attributed to the lions that inhabit the north, west and central areas of Africa, it was the result of studies on cytochrome b (a set of approximately 10,000 aligned genes, carefully separated, that were isolated within the larger group of millions of genes located in Mitochondrial DNA) that converged with some similarities between some existing groups. What I want to tell you is that the grouping that is genetically assigned is for Conservation and Taxonomic Classification purposes. Genetic science looked for traces among the existing populations… and these “positionings” also found divergences in the orderings. In short, western lions are the population closest genetically to Asians. Almost the same are the extinct lions in Iran, Iraq, Turkey, etc. We must consider that genetics does not control everything, like physiological adaptations.

What is urgent for conservation, guarding and genetic improvement of western and central African lions is to have some individuals, from geographic points where they are still present, also kept in captivity - groups originating in Senegal, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia and West from Uganda. Not in zoos, but along the lines of the small private reserves that exist in South Africa where lions, despite being surrounded, keep most of their characteristics in the wild.

If you like the topic of Conservation and Genetics, go to: 

Genetic guidelines for translocations: Maintaining intraspecific diversity in the lion (Panthera leo)

Dr. Laura D. Bertola has published several studies on this topic. What it does is make genetics at the service of conservation. A pragmatic vision that involves genetics in the broad scope of lion conservation, strengthening its evolutionary history, genetic enrichment and guarding, guiding introduction and reitroduction strategies, observing the best paths for the future survival of the species. Reply