The leopards of Africa and Asia are genetically different, with a small group migrating to Asia about half a million years ago while others continued their evolution in Africa. This is the conclusion reached by an international team of researchers. To develop the study, the scientists performed a genetic analysis of historical specimens that were stored in natural history museums.
Also, although they both have spots, the researchers discovered a striking genomic distinction between leopards that inhabit Asia and Africa. In fact, Asian leopards are more genetically separated from African leopards than brown bears are from polar bears, the study researchers were able to conclude.
Genetic analysis
Although there has been some exchange of populations in the East, this study suggests that genetic differences between African and Asian leopards began with the first migration (about 500,000 years ago).
On the other hand, genetic analysis usually requires fresh tissue samples. However, analyzing the museum samples allowed the researchers to retrieve genome information from populations that had previously been driven to extinction for at least several decades.
Thus, the researchers were able to obtain nuclear genomic data (the entire DNA) of leopards in their current and historical distribution, discovering new details about their global population. Also, since their separation, Asian leopard populations have undergone fewer genetic changes than African leopards, probably because they are more dispersed across the continent.
Threatened by humans
Although leopards are widely distributed in Asia and Africa, they are sometimes in close proximity to people. For this reason, they have lost a large part of their habitat and their population has been drastically reduced, being in danger of extinction.
However, despite the invasion of humans into leopard habitats, historical samples do not reveal greater genetic diversity than more modern samples. This suggests that although humans have driven some leopard populations to extinction, the impact from humans has not been severe enough to affect the entire genome.
