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Genetic variation and subspecific status of the grey wolf (Canislupus) in Saudi Arabia

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Abstract

This work represents the most extensive genetic study of the grey wolf (Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758) in Arabia and the first considering genetic data from multiple locations within Saudi Arabia. Previous suggestion of the occurrence of two subspecies of wolves in Arabia is not supported by this study. The genetic evidence suggests that the wolves of Saudi Arabia are genetically variable and more closely related to the Eurasian wolf Canis lupus group (dog included) than to the Indian wolf C. l. pallipes. The genetic diversity observed for C. lupus in Saudi Arabia indicates that the subspecific status C. l. arabs should be retained for the Arabian wolf. What remains unclear is the degree to which genetic introgression from domestic dogs has influenced the composition and integrity of C. lupus in Saudi Arabia.

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Author notes

  1. Thomas M. Butynski

    Present address: Lolldaiga Hills Research Programme, Sustainability Centre Eastern Africa, P.O. Box 149, 10400, Nanyuki, Kenya

Authors and Affiliations

  1. KSU Mammals Research Chair, Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Timothy C. Bray, Osama Badri Mohammed & Abdulaziz Nasser Alagaili

  2. King Khalid Wildlife Research Centre, Saudi Wildlife Authority, Thumamah, P.O. Box 61681, 11575, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Thomas M. Butynski & Mohamed Abdelkader Sandouka

  3. Conservation Programmes, The Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, NW1 4RY, London, United Kingdom

    Thomas M. Butynski & Mohamed Abdelkader Sandouka

  4. Department of Wildlife & Aquatic Resources Management, College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Rwanda, P.O. Box 57, Nyagatare, Rwanda

    Torsten Wronski

  5. Saudi Wildlife Authority, P.O. Box 61681, 11575, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Abdulaziz Nasser Alagaili

Authors
  1. Timothy C. Bray
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  2. Osama Badri Mohammed
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  3. Thomas M. Butynski
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  5. Mohamed Abdelkader Sandouka
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  6. Abdulaziz Nasser Alagaili
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Correspondence to Timothy C. Bray.

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Bray, T.C., Mohammed, O.B., Butynski, T.M. et al. Genetic variation and subspecific status of the grey wolf (Canislupus) in Saudi Arabia. Mamm Biol 79, 409–413 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mambio.2014.06.005

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mambio.2014.06.005

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