DNA-led rediscovery of the giant sable antelope in Angola

Christian Pitra; Pedro VazPinto; Brendan W.J. O'Keeffe; Sandi Willows-Munro; Bettine Jansen Van Vuuren; Terry J. Robinson

doi:10.1007/s10344-005-0026-y

DNA-led rediscovery of the giant sable antelope in Angola

Christian Pitra, Pedro VazPinto, Brendan W.J. O'Keeffe, Sandi Willows-Munro, Bettine Jansen Van Vuuren, Terry J. Robinson

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The giant sable antelope (Hippotragus niger variani), unique to Angola, was feared extinct after almost three decades of civil war. Comparisons of mitochondrial DNA sequences derived from dung samples recently collected in the field and from old museum specimens of certain provenance provide the first documented evidence to date that this enigmatic antelope has survived. Its DNA-led rediscovery in the former combat zone was subsequently confirmed by photographic evidence. The Angolan isolate constitutes a distinct monophyletic group that shows a dramatic population decline from historic levels. It represents a diagnosable conservation unit which is characterised by unique cranial morphological features (Blaine 1922 1922:317-339), a highly restricted range, and the presence of fixed genetic differences in all of its common relatives.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	145-152
Number of pages	8
Journal	European Journal of Wildlife Research
Volume	52
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-005-0026-y
Publication status	Published - Aug 2006
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Dung mitochondrial DNA
Giant sable antelope
Hippotragus niger variani
Species identification

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Nature and Landscape Conservation
Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1007/s10344-005-0026-y

Cite this

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abstract = "The giant sable antelope (Hippotragus niger variani), unique to Angola, was feared extinct after almost three decades of civil war. Comparisons of mitochondrial DNA sequences derived from dung samples recently collected in the field and from old museum specimens of certain provenance provide the first documented evidence to date that this enigmatic antelope has survived. Its DNA-led rediscovery in the former combat zone was subsequently confirmed by photographic evidence. The Angolan isolate constitutes a distinct monophyletic group that shows a dramatic population decline from historic levels. It represents a diagnosable conservation unit which is characterised by unique cranial morphological features (Blaine 1922 1922:317-339), a highly restricted range, and the presence of fixed genetic differences in all of its common relatives.",

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volume = "52",

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T1 - DNA-led rediscovery of the giant sable antelope in Angola

AU - Pitra, Christian

AU - VazPinto, Pedro

AU - O'Keeffe, Brendan W.J.

AU - Willows-Munro, Sandi

AU - Jansen Van Vuuren, Bettine

AU - Robinson, Terry J.

PY - 2006/8

Y1 - 2006/8

N2 - The giant sable antelope (Hippotragus niger variani), unique to Angola, was feared extinct after almost three decades of civil war. Comparisons of mitochondrial DNA sequences derived from dung samples recently collected in the field and from old museum specimens of certain provenance provide the first documented evidence to date that this enigmatic antelope has survived. Its DNA-led rediscovery in the former combat zone was subsequently confirmed by photographic evidence. The Angolan isolate constitutes a distinct monophyletic group that shows a dramatic population decline from historic levels. It represents a diagnosable conservation unit which is characterised by unique cranial morphological features (Blaine 1922 1922:317-339), a highly restricted range, and the presence of fixed genetic differences in all of its common relatives.

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KW - Dung mitochondrial DNA

KW - Giant sable antelope

KW - Hippotragus niger variani

KW - Species identification

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DNA-led rediscovery of the giant sable antelope in Angola

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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