GENETIC IDENTIFICATION OF WHITE-HANDED GIBBONS (Hylobates Lar) IN CAPTIVITY

Abstract

Accordingto Groves (2001), andMootnick (2006), these five subspecies exhibit different morphological characteristics (Table 1).Systematic relationships in gibbons are still controversial. Previous investigations on the chromosomal, morphological, and behavioral features of gibbons have been utilized to attempt to resolve this. Garza and Woodruff (1992) reported mitochondrial Cytochrome b (Cyt b) variations in Hylobates. Other investigators also utilized partial mitochondrial genes to study interspecific and intergeneric differences in the Hylobatidae family (

Taxonomic and genetic assessment of captive White-Handed Gibbons (Hylobates lar) in Peninsular Malaysia with implications towards conservation translocation and reintroduction programmes

“…The phylogenetic positioning of H. lar within the genus Hylobates concurs with findings from previous studies (Israfil et al 2011;Chan et al 2013;Matsudaira and Ishida 2021). Our phylogenetic and network analysis showed that H. l. vestitus from Sumatra diverged first (Thinh et al 2010;Aifat and Md-Zain 2021;Matsudaira and Ishida 2021) before the proto-H. lar bifurcated to form the H. l. lar clade and the possible Indochinese subspecies clade (entelloides, carpenteri, and yunnanensis). However, the Indochinese subspecies clade did not show any obvious subspecies groupings.…”

“…A total of 1030-bp of the complete CR of mtDNA was successfully obtained from all 12 samples used in this study using the newly designed pairs of oligonucleotides. The CR segment of mtDNA is the most variable region and has been recommended as the appropriate segment to be used to infer gibbon phylogeny ( Roos and Geissmann 2001 ; Woodruff et al 2005 ; Whittaker et al 2007 ; Matsudaira and Ishida 2010 ; Aifat and Md-Zain 2021 ). However, due to the lack of complete CR sequences of Hylobates in GenBank, a total of 527-bp of aligned dataset were analysed from 100 sequences representing all species of Hylobates except H. funereus .…”

“…Finally, our findings revealed that all 12 captive individuals used in this study belong to the H. l. lar subspecies. Aifat and Md-Zain (2021) used partial cytochrome b gene segment of the mtDNA to successfully identify the subspecies of captive H. lar in Peninsular Malaysia but suggested that the CR segment be used in further studies on H. lar . The CR segment has been used in forensic investigations of various wildlife species to identify the subspecies and geographical origins of rescued or confiscated animals ( Iyengar 2014 ).…”

“…To assess the taxonomic and genetic variation of gibbons, several molecular taxonomy studies have been conducted. However, most systematic studies on gibbons have focused mainly on interspecific variation ( Chan et al 2010 , 2012 , 2013 ; Israfil et al 2011 ; Veeramah et al 2015 ; Matsudaira and Ishida 2021 ) while only a few have investigated intraspecific variation ( Andayani et al 2001 ; Woodruff et al 2005 ; Aifat and Md-Zain 2021 ). In particular, the taxonomic status of H. lar subspecies requires further examination as they are based on minor variations in body colour and fur polychromatism ( Woodruff et al 2005 ; Brockelman and Geissmann 2020 ).…”