Biochemical Genetic Variation in Eight Endangered or Threatened Felid Species

Electrophoretic variation at 25 biochemical loci was detected in one or more of eight non-domesticated cat species, including representative small cats (Felis, Leptailurus, Caracal), the great cats (Panthera), and felids of intermediate size (Leopardus, Neofelis). In all, 50 distinct polymorphisms are described and each was tested for conformity to Mendelian expectation (in pedigree analysis) and for genetic equilibrium of allelic frequencies. Although most of the variation was detected by alterations in electrophoretic mobility, two isozyme loci showed the presence of null alleles (NAD-diaphorase and inorganic pyrophosphatase) in the sampled species. Two subspecies of tigers, Bengal Panthera tigris tigris and Siberian P. tigris altaica, had a different pattern at two loci (glutamate pyruvate transaminase and inorganic pyrophosphatase), which were both polymorphic in Bengal tigers but monomorphic in Siberian tigers. The description of these polymorphisms provides a genetic baseline of potential use in the management and captive breeding of felid populations