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The genus Cervus in eastern Eurasia

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Abstract

In 2004, Christian Pitra and co-workers published the first molecular phylogeny of Old World deer which advanced our understanding of the Cervinae immeasurably by demonstrating the non-monophyletic status of the red deer/wapiti group, the chital/hog deer group and the swamp deer/Eld's deer group. Therefore, many conspicuous external features—antler complexity, mane and rump-patch development—turned out to be related not to phylogeny as much as to climatic-related lifestyle factors. At a lower level, molecular genetics has reinforced some conclusions drawn on the basis of morphology or behaviour. Striking examples are the divisions between mainland and Japanese sika and between northern and southern forms of Japanese sika. In this paper, I will look at the species living in what Pitra et al. (Evolution and phylogeny of old world deer. Mol Phylogenet Evol 33:880–895, 2004) identified as the heartland of cervine evolution: eastern Eurasia. I will consider the two species groups in this region that seem to crystallize both the problems of cervine classification and the ways in which the new sources of evidence have opened up new avenues of inquiry.

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Acknowledgements

This paper is dedicated to Professor Christian Pitra on the occasion of his 65th birthday, 29 April 2005.

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  1. School of Archaeology and Anthropology Building 14, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia

    Colin Groves

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Correspondence to Colin Groves.

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Groves, C. The genus Cervus in eastern Eurasia. Eur J Wildl Res 52, 14–22 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-005-0011-5

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