On the Identity of the First Rhinoceros Owned by of the Dublin Zoo (†1865); Genetic Characterisation of a Poorly Preserved Museum Specimen

Abstract

Understanding past and present genetic diversity within endangered species is crucial for the identification of evolutionary significant units (ESUs) and subsequent conservational decisions. Direct access to genetic diversity of extinct populations can only be gained from (sub)fossils or specimens housed in natural history collections. With probably less than 50 extant specimens, the Javan rhinoceros, Rhinoceros sondaicus, is a critically endangered species. It is rare even in museum collections, thus each newly discovered specimen is of conservation importance. Although the Indian (Rhinoceros unicornis) and Javan rhinoceros differ in size, skinfolds and skin texture, the two have been confused on several occasions in the recorded history of both species. Examples can be found in textbooks, zoological gardens and museums. As for the latter, identification of mounted specimens can be compromised by among other factors poor preservation of the skin. An example of such an ambiguous specimen is the Dublin Zoo rhinoceros ($1865) housed in the Zoological Museum at Trinity College Dublin. Ever since it was mounted, it has borne a name plate that claims it represents a specimen of R. unicornis, but this is not necessarily supported by a number of morphological characters. With this study, we determine the identity of this one-and-a-half century old specimen by DNA sequencing a fragment of mitochondrial Cytochrome B.