A. Hassanin et al., Evidence from DNA that the mysterious 'linh duong' (Pseudonovibos spiralis) is not a new bovid, CR AC S III, 324(1), 2001, pp. 71-80
Citations number
31
Categorie Soggetti
Multidisciplinary,"Experimental Biology
Journal title
COMPTES RENDUS DE L ACADEMIE DES SCIENCES SERIE III-SCIENCES DE LA VIE-LIFE SCIENCES
In 1993, several horns of an unknown mammal were collected in the south of
Vietnam. Due to the unusual characteristics of its horns, the 'linh duong',
as named by Vietnamese hunters, was quickly described as belonging to a ne
w monospecific gen us of bovid, i.e. Pseudonovibos spiralis Peter & Feiler,
1994. The taxonomic status of Pseudonovibos was a highly controversial sub
ject, and it has been suggested that this enigmatic species may be related
to three different groups of Bovidae: Antilopini (gazelles), Bovini (cattle
, bisons, buffaloes), and Caprini sensu late (goats, sheep and allies). To
assess the phylogenetic relationships of the linh duong within the family B
ovidae, two different DNA markers, the nuclear lactoferrin and the mitochon
drial cytochrome b genes, were sequenced from bone samples of four trophies
collected during 1925 in Indochina. Results show that the mysterious horns
of linh duong belong to domestic cattle (Bos taurus). Thus, the linh duong
is not a new mammal and the scientific name Pseudonovibos spiralis should
be abandoned. (C) 2001 Academie des sciences/Editions scientifiques et medi
cales Elsevier SAS.