Morphometrics of a wild Asian elephant exhibiting disproportionate dwarfism

10.7287/peerj.preprints.234 ◽

2014 ◽

Author(s):

Shermin de Silva ◽

U. Sameera Weerathunga ◽

T. V. Pushpakumara

Keyword(s):

Body Length ◽

Single Case ◽

Mammalian Species ◽

Asian Elephant ◽

Skeletal Growth ◽

Elephas Maximus ◽

In The Wild ◽

The Subject ◽

Free Ranging ◽

Physical Conformation

Dwarfism is a condition characterized by shorter stature, at times accompanied by differential skeletal growth proportions relative to the species-typical physical conformation. Causes vary and are well-documented in humans as well as certain mammalian species in captive or laboratory conditions, but rarely observed in the wild. Here we report on a single case of apparent dwarfism in a free-ranging adult male Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) in Sri Lanka, comparing physical dimensions to those of other males in the same population, males in other populations, and previous records. The subject was shorter than typical mature males, with a shoulder height of approximately 195cm and a body length of 218cm. This ratio of body length to height also deviates from what is typically observed, which is nearly 1:1. The subject also exhibits a slight elongation of the skull. We discuss how this phenotype compares to cases of dwarfism in other non-human animals.

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Morphometrics of a wild Asian elephant exhibiting disproportionate dwarfism

10.1101/001594 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

Shermin de Silva ◽

Udaya S Weerathunga ◽

Tennekoon Pushpakumara

Keyword(s):

Sri Lanka ◽

Body Length ◽

Single Case ◽

Mammalian Species ◽

Asian Elephant ◽

Average Height ◽

In The Wild ◽

Absolute Height ◽

The Subject ◽

Free Ranging

Dwarfism is a condition characterized by shorter stature, at times accompanied by differential skeletal growth proportions relative to the species-typical physical conformation. Causes vary and well-documented in humans as well as certain mammalian species in captive or laboratory conditions, but rarely observed in the wild. Here we report on a single case of apparent dwarfism in a free-ranging adult male Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) in Sri Lanka, comparing physical dimensions to those of other males in the same population, males in other populations, and records in previous literature. The subject was found to have a shoulder height of approximately 195cm, is shorter than the average height of typical mature males, with a body length of 218cm. This ratio of body length to height deviates from what is typically observed, which is approximately 1:1. In absolute height the subject was similar to the attributes of a captive elephant documented in 1955 in Sri Lanka, also said to be a dwarf, however the two specimens differed in the relative proportions of height vs. body length. The subject also exhibits a slight elongation of the skull. We discuss how this phenotype compares to cases of dwarfism in other non-human animals.

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Short Communication: The correlation between foot circumference with the body length, shoulder height, and pelvic width in Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus)

Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity ◽

10.13057/biodiv/d220711 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (7) ◽

Author(s):

HERY WIJAYANTO ◽

DENY SETYO WIBOWO ◽

RINI WIDAYANTI ◽

TRI WAHYU PANGESTININGSIH ◽

WORO DANUR WENDO ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Length ◽

Strong Correlation ◽

Short Communication ◽

The Body ◽

Interaction Time ◽

Elephas Maximus ◽

Body Measurement ◽

Strong Correlations ◽

Regression Test ◽

In The Wild

Abstract. Wijayanto H, Wibowo DS, Widayanti R, Pangestiningsih TW, Wendo WD, Asvan M, Gunawan AS, Wirabrata M. 2021. Short Communication: The correlation between foot circumference with the body length, shoulder height, and pelvic width in Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus). Biodiversitas 22: 2635-2640. Sumatran elephants' body measurement is essential in conservation practices to perceive health status and determining medication doses. Considering elephants' size, the mahouts doing the recording can easily get harmed during their interaction with their animal. Therefore, easier method to shortening interaction time is urgently needed in estimating elephants' size. The aim of the research is to find out the correlations between forefoot and hindfoot circumference (FFC and HFC) with the body length (BL), shoulder height (SH), and pelvic width (PW) in Sumatran elephants. The correlation formula will very much reduce the time needed to measure the elephant size, since the mahouts only need to measure the foot circumference left by the elephant on the ground to predict BL, SH, and PW. The anatomical data were collected from adult elephants in Aceh, Safari Park Indonesia, Gembira Loka Zoo, Borobudur Park, and PLG Duri Pekanbaru. Measurements were done using modified Vernier calipers and roll meters, referring to standardized methods. The data then calculated using correlation and linear-regression test. From the results, we found that the FFC has very strong correlation with SH (R=0.809) and strong correlations with BL (R=0.769) and PW(R=0.73). Results from the HFC show very strong correlation with PW (R=0.826) and strong correlations with BL (R=0.775) and SH (R=0.747). In the conclusion, the foot circumference is very useful to predict the elephant's size and can much reduce the mahouts' risk by minimizing interaction time needed in elephant’s body measurement. For the field researcher, they are not necessary to meet with the elephants to predict the elephant’s size in the wild.

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Lateralization in trunk and forefoot movements in a population of free-ranging Asian elephants (Elephas maximus).

Journal of Comparative Psychology ◽

10.1037/com0000013 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 129 (4) ◽

pp. 377-387 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

P. Keerthipriya ◽

Rachna Tewari ◽

T. N. C. Vidya

Keyword(s):

Elephas Maximus ◽

Asian Elephants ◽

Free Ranging

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Social structure and demography of a remnant Asian elephant Elephas maximus population and the implications for survival

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605319000504 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Lauren J. Hale ◽

Kun Shi ◽

Tania C. Gilbert ◽

Kelvin S.-H. Peh ◽

Philip Riordan

Keyword(s):

Social Structure ◽

Population Size ◽

Total Population ◽

Camera Traps ◽

Asian Elephant ◽

Elephas Maximus ◽

Effective Density ◽

Anthropogenic Pressures ◽

Sex Ratio Bias ◽

Elephant Population

Abstract The Asian elephant Elephas maximus is at risk of extinction as a result of anthropogenic pressures, and remaining populations are often small and fragmented remnants, occupying a fraction of the species' former range. Once widely distributed across China, only a maximum of 245 elephants are estimated to survive across seven small populations. We assessed the Asian elephant population in Nangunhe National Nature Reserve in Lincang Prefecture, China, using camera traps during May–July 2017, to estimate the population size and structure of this genetically important population. Although detection probability was low (0.31), we estimated a total population size of c. 20 individuals, and an effective density of 0.39 elephants per km2. Social structure indicated a strong sex ratio bias towards females, with only one adult male detected within the population. Most of the elephants associated as one herd but three adult females remained separate from the herd throughout the trapping period. These results highlight the fragility of remnant elephant populations such as Nangunhe and we suggest options such as a managed metapopulation approach for their continued survival in China and more widely.

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Non-breeding feather concentrations of testosterone, corticosterone and cortisol are associated with subsequent survival in wild house sparrows

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2011.2062 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 279 (1733) ◽

pp. 1560-1566 ◽

Cited By ~ 71

Author(s):

Lee Koren ◽

Shinichi Nakagawa ◽

Terry Burke ◽

Kiran K. Soma ◽

Katherine E. Wynne-Edwards ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stress Hormones ◽

Passer Domesticus ◽

House Sparrows ◽

Long Term Study ◽

Darwinian Fitness ◽

Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass ◽

In The Wild ◽

The Subject ◽

As Stress

Potential mechanistic mediators of Darwinian fitness, such as stress hormones or sex hormones, have been the focus of many studies. An inverse relationship between fitness and stress or sex hormone concentrations has been widely assumed, although empirical evidence is scarce. Feathers gradually accumulate hormones during their growth and provide a novel way to measure hormone concentrations integrated over time. Using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, we measured testosterone, corticosterone and cortisol in the feathers of house sparrows ( Passer domesticus ) in a wild population which is the subject of a long-term study. Although corticosterone is considered the dominant avian glucocorticoid, we unambiguously identified cortisol in feathers. In addition, we found that feathers grown during the post-nuptial moult in autumn contained testosterone, corticosterone and cortisol levels that were significantly higher in birds that subsequently died over the following winter than in birds that survived. Thus, feather steroids are candidate prospective biomarkers to predict the future survival of individuals in the wild.

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Improved Trapping and Handling of an Arboreal, Montane Mammal: Red Panda Ailurus fulgens

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11040921 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 921

Author(s):

Damber Bista ◽

Sonam Tashi Lama ◽

Janno Weerman ◽

Ang Phuri Sherpa ◽

Purushotam Pandey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Success Rate ◽

Body Length ◽

Tail Length ◽

Morphometric Data ◽

Field Identification ◽

Red Panda ◽

In The Wild ◽

Chest Girth ◽

Ailurus Fulgens

It is sometimes essential to have an animal in the hand to study some of their ecological and biological characteristics. However, capturing a solitary, cryptic, elusive arboreal species such as the red panda in the wild is challenging. We developed and successfully tested a protocol for tracking, trapping, immobilization, and handling of red pandas in the wild in eastern Nepal. We established a red panda sighting rate of 0.89 panda/day with a capture success rate of 0.6. We trapped and collared one animal in 3.7 days. On average, we took nearly 136 (range 50–317) min to capture an animal after spotting it. Further processing was completed in 38.5 (21–70) min. Before capture, we found it difficult to recognize the sex of the red panda and to differentiate sub-adults above six months from adults. However, body weight, body length, tail length, shoulder height, and chest girth can be used for diagnosis, as these attributes are smaller in sub-adults. Our method is a welfare-friendly way of trapping and handling wild red pandas. We report new morphometric data that could serve as a guide for field identification.

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