Download Panthera pardus ssp. saxicolor, Persian Leopard

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IUCN 2008: T15961A5334217
Panthera pardus ssp. saxicolor, Persian Leopard
Assessment by: Khorozyan, I.
View on www.iucnredlist.org
Citation: Khorozyan, I. 2008. Panthera pardus ssp. saxicolor. The IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species 2008: e.T15961A5334217.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T15961A5334217.en
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THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Carnivora
Felidae
Taxon Name: Panthera pardus ssp. saxicolor Pocock, 1927
Synonym(s):
• Panthera pardus subspecies ciscaucasica
• Panthera pardus subspecies dathei
• Panthera pardus subspecies sindica
• Panthera pardus subspecies transcaucasica
Parent Species: See Panthera pardus
Common Name(s):
• English:
Persian Leopard, Caucasian Leopard, Central Asian Leopard, North Persian Leopard, West
Asian Leopard
Taxonomic Notes:
This subspecies has been validated by genetic (Miththapala et al. 1996, Uphyrkina et al. 2001) and
morphological (Khorozyan et al. 2006) analyses. However, its name and geographic range are uncertain.
While P. p sindica, described from Pakistan (Pocock 1927), was subsumed into P. p. saxicolor according to
genetic analysis of a single sample (Miththapala et al. 1996, Uphyrkina et al. 2001), morphological
analysis was able to reliably distinguish the two (Khorozyan et al. 2006). Uphyrkina et al. (2001) also
subsumed P. p. tulliana, described from western Turkey, into P. p. saxicolor; however, they lacked any
biological samples and did so on the basis of geographic proximity. However, morphological analysis
was able to distinguish the two subspecies (Khorozyan et al. 2006), and a review of taxonomy by Ullrich
and Riffel (2003) concluded that P. p. tulliana was a distinct subspecies restricted to southwestern
Turkey, but not eastern Turkey. This would be the smallest geographic range for any leopard subspecies.
Yet Khorozyan (pers. comm. 2008) notes that many Russian scientists have used P. p. tulliana rather than
saxicolor for leopards of the former Soviet Republics (e.g., Shakula 2004).
Morphological (Khorozyan et al. 2006) and preliminary genetic analysis (C. Fernandes pers. comm. to I.
Khorozyan, 2008) suggest that this subspecies' range includes eastern Turkey, the Caucasus mountains,
northern Iran, southern Turkmenistan, and parts of western Afghanistan, although the transition to P. p.
sindica is unclear. Genetic analysis of leopard samples from Iran showed surprising diversity, and
suggests that the leopard population in the south (Zagroz Mountains) groups with P. p. sindica.
Khorozyan et al. (2006) propose that the subspecies be renamed P. p. ciscaucasica (Satunin, 1914), as
according to the taxonomic rule of priority this name was introduced earlier than P. p. saxicolor (Pocock,
1927). While acknowledging that it is a junior synonym, Lukarevsky et al. (2007) proposed retaining P. p.
saxicolor, in part because this name has previously been used on the IUCN Red List. Meanwhile, the
continued existence of the Anatolian Leopard, P. p. tulliana, in southwestern Turkey is uncertain, but if
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Panthera pardus ssp. saxicolor – published in 2008.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T15961A5334217.en
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any further analysis subsumes it within this taxon, then it should be renamed P. p. tulliana, as the oldest
scientific name (Valenciennes, 1856).
Ongoing research should yield a more precise definition of this subspecies range, and coalescence
around the most appropriate scientific and common names. Further research is necessary to define the
precise geographic extent of this subspecies, and the active leopard conservation community in the
region should agree on the primary scientific and common names.
Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria:
Endangered C2a(i) ver 3.1
Year Published:
2008
Date Assessed:
June 30, 2008
Justification:
By compiling national estimates (which include adults, sub-adults and cubs), the total number of mature
individuals of this subspecies is fewer than 871-1,290. The most recent crude national population
estimates are: 550-850 in Iran; 200-300 (?) in Afghanistan; 78-90 in Turkmenistan; <10-13 in Armenia;
<10-13 in Azerbaijan; 3-4 in Nagorno-Karabakh; <5 in Georgia; < 10 in Russian North Caucasus; < 5 in
Turkey (Khorozyan et al., 2005; Lukarevsky et al., 2007). Iran is the leopard stronghold in the Middle
East (estimated range 885,300 km²: Kiabi et al. 2002), and supports the viability of the small leopard
subpopulations in the Caucasus, eastern Turkey and, possibly, in Turkmenistan through transboundary
emigrations (Khorozyan & Abramov, 2007). However, leopard densities even in Iran are believed to be
very low (Farhadinia et al. 2007) – 0.06-0.1 individual/100 km² based on guesstimates in Kiabi et al.
(2002). The status of the leopard in Afghanistan is poorly known. Habibi (2004) described it as
threatened, noting that it is only rarely encountered in the more remote parts of its montane range, due
to hunting for fur trade and killing in defense of livestock.
The most urgent threat is ever-increasing fragmentation into a patchy network of distant and often too
small subpopulations. No subpopulation across the entire range is believed to contain more than 100
mature individuals (I. Khorozyan pers. comm. 2008). In the Caucasus, corridors are urgently needed to
link fragmented populations (Breitenmoser et al. 2007).
Prey reduction from poaching, infrastructure development, disturbance and habitat loss (collection of
edible plants and mushrooms, mining, road construction, deforestation, wild fire and livestock grazing)
are the driving forces of range fragmentation, and leave vast tracts of mountainous habitats unsuitable
for resident leopard subpopulations. The inter-patch hostile environments can be crossed by dispersing
sub-adult leopards, but such movements are risky and often end up with killings of predators that
actually or allegedly kill livestock in order to survive (Khorozyan et al., 2005; Lukarevsky et al., 2007).
Only a handful of protected areas (all in Iran) are large enough to maintain viable leopard
subpopulations (Kiabi et al. 2002, Breitenmoser et al. 2007, I. Khorozyan pers. comm. 2008).
Mountainous habitats are naturally discontinuous and patchy what aggravates the impacts of
fragmentation.
Direct poaching occurs as trophy hunting for sales on fur markets (Afghanistan), shooting to alleviate
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Panthera pardus ssp. saxicolor – published in 2008.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T15961A5334217.en
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predation on livestock (Iran, Turkmenistan) and killings upon encounter (Caucasus, eastern Turkey)
(Lukarevsky, 2001; Habibi, 2004; Mishra & Fitzherbert, 2004; Farhadinia et al., 2007; Khorozyan &
Abramov, 2007). It is not widespread, but makes a substantial impact on population viability due to
small population size. This is especially true in the Caucasus where the population is thinly distributed
over the vast areas and removal of just one individual delays replenishment by immigrants and hampers
overall demographic stabilization. As a result, even in optimal prey-rich areas (e.g., in southern Armenia)
actual leopard density is much lower than predicted from prey abundance (I. Khorozyan pers. comm.
2008). Political conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (warfare
ceased in 1995) entails the factors that boost poaching: military training and testing grounds, border
posts, intensification of agriculture and mining in safety zones and re-settling of previously abandoned
villages (I. Khorozyan pers. comm. 2008). Leopard occurrence is inversely related to human densities
and, hence, to settlements and infrastructure throughout the region (Gavashelishvili & Lukarevskiy,
2008; I. Khorozyan pers. comm. 2008).
Previously Published Red List Assessments
1996 – Endangered (EN)
1994 – Indeterminate (I)
Geographic Range
Country Occurrence:
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Panthera pardus ssp. saxicolor – published in 2008.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T15961A5334217.en
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Population
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
Habitat and Ecology
Systems: Terrestrial
Credits
Assessor(s):
Khorozyan, I.
Reviewer(s):
Nowell, K., Breitenmoser-Wursten, C., Breitenmoser, U. (Cat Red List Authority) &
Hoffmann, M. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Panthera pardus ssp. saxicolor – published in 2008.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T15961A5334217.en
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Bibliography
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conditions for the conservation of the leopard in the Caucasus. Cat News Special Issue No. 2: 34-39.
Farhadinia, M., Nezami, B., Mahdavi, A. and Hatami, K. 2007. Photos of Persian leopard in Alborz
mountains, Iran. Cat News 46: 34-35.
Gavashelishvili, A. and Lukarevskiy, V. 2007. Modelling the habitat requirements of leopard Panthera
pardus in west and central Asia. Journal of Applied Ecology 45(2): 579-588.
Habibi, K. 2003. Mammals of Afghanistan. Zoo Outreach Organisation/USFWS, Coimbatore, India.
Khorozyan I. G. and Abramov A. V. 2007. The leopard, Panthera pardus (Carnivora: Felidae), and its
resilience to human pressure in the Caucasus. Zoology in the Middle East 41: 11-24.
Khorozyan, I. G., Gennady, F., Baryshnikov, G. F. and Abramov, A. V. 2006. Taxonomic status of the
leopard, Panthera pardus (Carnivora, Felidae) in the Caucasus and adjacent areas. Russian Journal of
Theriology 5(1): 41-52.
Khorozyan, I., Malkhasyan, A. and Asmaryan, S. 2005. The Persian leopard prowls its way to survival.
Endangered Species Update 22: 51-60.
Kiabi, B. H., Dareshouri, B. F., Ghaemi, R. A. and Jahanshahi, M. 2002. Population status of the Persian
Leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor Pocock, 1927) in Iran. Zoology in the Middle East 26: 41-47.
Lukarevsky, V. 2001. The leopard, striped hyena and wolf in Turkmenistan [Leopard, polosataya giena i
volk v Turkmenistane]. Signar Publishers, Moscow, Russia.
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Cat News 2: 4-8.
Mishra, C. and Fitzherbert, A. 2004. War and wildlife: a post-conflict assessment of Afghanistan's
Wakhan Corridor. Oryx 38(1): 102-105.
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Nowell, K. and Jackson, P. 1996. Wild Cats. Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. IUCN/SSC Cat
Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.
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9(20): 213-214.
Pocock, R. I. 1930. The panthers and ounces of Asia. 34: 64.
Satunin, K. A. 1914. Key of the Mammals of the Russian Empire. Tipografia kantseliarii namestnika EIV na
Kavkaze, Tiflis.
Shakula, V. 2004. First record of leopard in Kazakhstan. Cat News 41: 11-12.
Ullrich, B. and Riffel, M. 1993. New evidence for the occurrence of the Anatolian Leopard, Panthera
pardus tulliana (Valenciennes, 1856), in Western Turkey. Mammalia 57: 5.
Uphyrkina, O., Johnson, W.E., Quigley, H.B., Miquelle, D.G., Marker, L., Bush, M.E. and O'Brien, S.J. 2001.
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© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Panthera pardus ssp. saxicolor – published in 2008.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T15961A5334217.en
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Valenciennes, M. A. 1856. Sur une nouvelle espece d'un Panthere tuee par M Tchihatcheff a Ninfi, village
situee a huit lieues Est de Smyrne. Comptes Rendus des Seances de l'Academie des Sciences, Paris 42:
1035-1039.
Zukowsky, L. 1959. Persische Panther. Der Zoologische Garten 24(5-6): 329-344.
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Citation
Khorozyan, I. 2008. Panthera pardus ssp. saxicolor. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008:
e.T15961A5334217. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T15961A5334217.en
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External Resources
For Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the Red List website.
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Panthera pardus ssp. saxicolor – published in 2008.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T15961A5334217.en
6
Appendix
Additional Data Fields
Population
Population severely fragmented: Yes
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Panthera pardus ssp. saxicolor – published in 2008.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T15961A5334217.en
7
The IUCN Red List Partnership
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species
Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership. The IUCN
Red List Partners are: BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Conservation
International; Microsoft; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of Rome; Texas
A&M University; Wildscreen; and Zoological Society of London.
THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™