Identification of hairs of some mammalian prey of large cats in Gir Protected Area, India

Dharaiya, Nishith; Soni, V. C.

doi:10.11609/jott.o3032.2928-32

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…The scale margin was rippled in Sambar, crenate in Nilgai and smooth in Spotted deer. Similar cuticular scale margin was observed by Dharaiya and Soni (2012).…”

Section: Results a N D Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

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Cuticular and Medullary Structure of Some Wild Herbivoresof India

Charjan¹,

Nandeshwar²,

Banubakode³

et al. 2019

IJVSBT

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The dorsal guard hair is considered as a mammalian exoskeleton. The anatomical feature of the three concentric layers of the mammalian hair, viz., medulla, cortex, and cuticle vary considerably with different species. The characteristics features of cuticular scales and medullary pattern can be used as an important tool for species identification by using various methods for hair analysis. The morphological features of cuticle and medulla of dorsal guard hair samples of Sambar (Rusa unicolor), Nilgai/blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus) and Spotted deer (Axix axis), six each, were studied during post-mortem examination. The microscopic studies showed a difference in some of the cuticular scale and medullar cells among three species. Hence, a single morphological feature of hair may not be a confirmative tool for species identification but multiple morphological features can be used as a confirmative tool of species identification. This study provides pictographic details in eead of some wild species which can be used to curb criminal acts against wild animals.

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“…The scale margin was rippled in Sambar, crenate in Nilgai and smooth in Spotted deer. Similar cuticular scale margin was observed by Dharaiya and Soni (2012).…”

Section: Results a N D Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…1b). Dharaiya and Soni (2012) noted similar cuticular scale pattern in Sambar, Nilgai and Spotted deer. Bhat et al (2014) also observed irregular wave cuticular scale pattern in Nilgai with close distance between scale margins.…”

Section: Results a N D Discussionsupporting

confidence: 52%

Cuticular and Medullary Structure of Some Wild Herbivoresof India

Charjan¹,

Nandeshwar²,

Banubakode³

et al. 2019

IJVSBT

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Such analysis provides less morphological information for species identification than hair cross sections. For the publications in which cross-sectioning of mammalian hair was performed, the quality of sections was in agreement with our results for handsectioning (39,(49)(50)(51). Unfortunately, the method used for crosssectioning mammalian hairs was not described in these studies.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 86%

A Novel Application of a Cryosectioning Technique to Aid Scat Hair Microanalysis

Mandoreba

Cloete

Minnis‐Ndimba

et al. 2018

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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Scat hair presents a diverse profile of hairs for morphological assessment that may find versatile applications in wildlife forensic investigations. Successful morphological assessment of scat hair microstructure, however, depends on a robust sectioning methodology. We assessed the feasibility and efficacy of a cryosectioning technique compared to that of a gold standard hand‐sectioning technique. Scat hairs were embedded in paraffin wax and hand‐sectioned, while cryopreserved scat hairs were sectioned with a cryostat. The results showed that cryosectioning preserved the pristine morphology of the scat hair and provided cross sections more amenable to high‐resolution imaging of hair internal microstructure than hand‐sectioning. The cryosectioning technique may find novel applications as a more reliable and robust technique to aid (i) scat hair internal microstructure analysis for cross‐referencing with species identification keys in wildlife forensic studies and (ii) downstream toxicological analysis in wildlife forensic studies as hair biochemistry is not altered during cryopreservation.

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“…(Andheria et al 2007;Avinandan et al 2008;Upadhyaya et al 2018). The comparative analyses of the different morphological approaches (cuticular, medullary and cross-section) for prey identification confirmed the efficacy of the medullary approach over the others (Dharaiya and Soni 2012;Souza and Azevedo 2020) (Supplementary data SD3, Supplementary data SD4). Given that the Indian subcontinent currently retains the largest tiger population across the range residing within the most varied habitat types (Jhala et al 2020(Jhala et al , 2021, such information will be of great importance towards habitat management and conflict mitigation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

What drives prey selection? Assessment of tiger food habits across the Terai-Arc landscape, India

Biswas

Kumar

Bandyopadhyay

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Large carnivores strongly shape ecological interactions within their respective ecosystems, but experience significant conflicts with human across their range due to their specific ecological resource requirements. The tiger (Panthera tigris) typifies the challenges faced by the large carnivore communities globally. India retains majority of the global tiger population with significant numbers outside protected areas (PAs) that are involved in conflicts from livestock predation and human/tiger death. To understand the prey selection patterns and spatio-temporal patterns of livestock predation-related conflict issues we investigated tiger food habits across the Indian part of the Terai-Arc Landscape (TAL), a globally-important tiger conservation landscape in India. We used 510 genetically-confirmed tiger faeces collected across the landscape and ascertained 10 wild and livestock as major prey species. Large-bodied species (sambar, swamp deer, nilgai, chital, wild pig and livestock) comprised ~94% of tiger diet, with sambar, chital and livestock were the major prey species. Habitat-specific (Shivalik-Bhabar and Terai) analyses show significantly different pattern of prey selections determined by abundance and prey body weight. Results also suggest that PA and non-PAs of Terai habitat are more prone to livestock depredation-related conflicts, and careful management interventions and community involvements are required to reduce such threats. We suggest long-term plans including population estimation of tigers and prey outside PAs, reducing grazing pressures and cattle enumeration, detailed investigation of tiger deaths etc. to ensure future tiger sustainability across this habitat.

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Identification of hairs of some mammalian prey of large cats in Gir Protected Area, India

Abstract: for the necessary lab facilities. The help of Dr. Vimal Bhuva in taking microphotographs is also acknowledged.

Cited by 9 publications

References 2 publications

Cuticular and Medullary Structure of Some Wild Herbivoresof India

Cuticular and Medullary Structure of Some Wild Herbivoresof India

A Novel Application of a Cryosectioning Technique to Aid Scat Hair Microanalysis

What drives prey selection? Assessment of tiger food habits across the Terai-Arc landscape, India

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