Splitting or Lumping? A Conservation Dilemma Exemplified by the Critically Endangered Dama Gazelle (Nanger dama)
Figure 2
Variation in pelage coloration in different populations listed from northwest to southeast.
a&b) Captive mhorr at Al Ain (a) and Frankfurt Zoo (b) which are descended from four founders caught in the Dora-Hagunia and Tichla-Bir Ganduz area of Western Sahara in 1958 (in the case of Al Ain zoo the origin is unrecorded, but it is highly likely that this is where they come from). c) animals from the population in Termit, Niger. d) animals from the population in Manga, Chad. e) animals from the population in Ouadi Rimé-Ouadi Achim, Chad. f) animals from the captive population at Al Ain Zoo, most likely descended from 20 founders taken from the wild in around Ouadi Haouach close to Ouadi Rimé-Ouadi Achim, Chad. Animals from the most north-westerly populations have the most extensive dark coloration, which descends down the legs. Moving to the south and east, this dark coloration fades upwards and forwards. Note that there is also phenotypic variation within populations, for example the width of the thigh marking differs in Manga and the animals in OROA exhibit presence or absence of the ham-shaped mark on the thigh [15].