Prevalence of Varied Coat Coloration in a Yellow-Throated Marten (Martes flavigula) Population

Abstract

Mammalian coat color is determined by heritable variations such as disease, nutrition, and hormone levels. Variation in animal coat color is also considered an environmental indicator and provides clues for the study of population genetics and biogeography. Records of abnormal coloration in the wild are rare, not only because it is often selected against, but also because of the difficulties in detection of the phenomenon. We used long-term camera-trapping data to first report abnormal coat coloration in yellow-throated marten (Martes flavigula) in China. Six types of abnormal coloration were found only in the Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park, Northeast China, which were not reported in other regions in China. A total of 268 videos of Martes flavigula contained normal coloration, 455 videos of individuals of the species contained abnormal coloration, 437 contained the ‘gloving’ type (martens with de-pigmented front toes, paws or lower forelimbs), while the remaining other 18 videos contained five types (different degrees of white-spotting and dilution). The higher relative abundance index (0.428, ‘gloving’ to 0.329, normal) and wide distribution area of the ‘gloving’ type indicated that this abnormal coat coloration type is usual in Northeast China, which may reflect genetic variability in the local population. These records will contribute to further research on animal coat color and its corresponding adaptive strategy.

Multivariate characterisation of morpho-biometric traits of indigenous helmeted Guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) in Nigeria

“…According to Getachew et al [ 48 ], sustainable livestock production in the tropics requires adaptive genotypes which can withstand the undesirable effects of climate change and ensure optimal performance of the birds. In another study on a different species, Nigenda-Morales et al [ 49 ] reported that the overall fitness of individuals in their environments may be affected by colour while Gong et al [ 50 ] considered colour variation as an environmental indicator, which provides clues for the study of population genetics and biogeography. The preponderance of Pearl plumage colour in our study may also be attributed to farmers’ preference, which is congruous with the submission of Vignal et al [ 4 ] that prevalence of a particular colour could be attached to social-cultural value without any proven relationship with a biological function.…”

Anomalous coloration in European pine marten Martes martes in Elba Island, Central Italy

“…In mammals, coat color is determined by the presence and the distribution of pigmentation (melanin) in the skin, hair, and eyes (Hofreiter & Schöneberg, 2010 ). Eumelanin and pheomelanin are two different forms of melanin responsible for black–brown coloration and red–yellow coloration, respectively (Gong et al, 2021 ). However, excessive or deficient melanin in part of or in the whole body can occasionally entail anomalous color.…”

“…Piebaldism is used when melanin is absent from some or all of the areas in which it is normally present, causing spotting patterns ranging from sparse white markings to total body discoloration, but rarely is accompanied by hypopigmented eyes (Abreu et al, 2013 ; Lamoreux et al, 2010 ; Lucati & López‐Baucells, 2017 ). Dilution is characterized by paler and more silvery coloration than normal due to insufficient pigmentation (Gong et al, 2021 ; Lamoreux et al, 2010 ). Abnormal colorations often occur in isolated and genetically homogenous populations as they are caused by single mutations in specific genes (Abreu et al, 2013 ; Hubbard et al, 2010 ).…”

“…Abnormal colorations often occur in isolated and genetically homogenous populations as they are caused by single mutations in specific genes (Abreu et al, 2013 ; Hubbard et al, 2010 ). However, records of this phenomenon in wild populations are underestimated and often misclassified due to difficulties in capturing specimens and performing genetic testing (Gong et al, 2021 ).…”

“…In mammals, genetic anomalies in coat color are documented in most taxa (Abreu et al, 2013 ; Camargo et al, 2014 ; Cronemberger et al, 2018 ; Descalzo et al, 2021 ; Keener et al, 2011 ; McAlpine, 2021 ; Muller, 2017 ; Olson & Allen, 2019 ). The increase in camera trap use has recently been revealing new evidence on this phenomenon in mustelids too (Allen et al, 2019 ; Gong et al, 2021 ; Hofmeester et al, 2021 ; Olson & Allen, 2019 ; Scrich et al, 2019 ). Within Mustelids, leucism or albinism cases have been documented in wild populations of tayra Eira barbara (Mendes‐Pontes et al, 2020 ; Talamoni et al, 2017 ), neotropical otter Lontra longicaudis (Arriaga‐Flores et al, 2016 ), Eurasian otter Lutra lutra (Goncharuk et al, 2020 ), oriental small‐clawed otter Aonyx cinereus (Allen et al, 2019 ), fisher Pekania pennanti (Olson & Allen, 2019 ), Eurasian badger Meles meles (Hofmeester et al, 2021 ), and yellow‐throated marten Martes flavigula (Gong et al, 2021 ).…”