Panthera tigris ssp. jacksoni
| Kingdom |
Phylum |
Class |
Order |
Family |
| ANIMALIA |
CHORDATA |
MAMMALIA |
CARNIVORA |
FELIDAE |
| Scientific Name: |
Panthera tigris ssp. jacksoni |
| Infra-specific Authority: |
Luo <i>et al</i>., 2004 |
|
Common Name/s:
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| Taxonomic Notes: |
In 2004, the tigers of Peninsular Malaysia were recognized as a new subspecies, Panthera tigris jacksoni, when a genetic analysis found that they are distinct in mtDNA and micro-satellite sequences from tigers of northern Indochina, P. t. corbetti (Luo et al., 2004). However, Mazak and Groves (2006) found no clear morphological differences (in cranial measurements or pelage characteristics) between tigers from Peninsular Malaysia and those elsewhere in Indochina, and argue for inclusion in P. t. corbetti. P. t. jacksoni is provisionally accepted here. The geographic division between P. t. jacksoni and P. t. corbetti is unclear as tiger populations in northern Malaysia are contiguous with those in southern Thailand (T. Lynam pers. comm. 2008). |
Assessment Information
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| Red List Category & Criteria: |
Endangered
C2a(i)
ver 3.1
|
| Year Assessed: |
2008 |
| Assessor/s |
Kawanishi, K. & Lynam, T. |
| Evaluator/s: |
Nowell, K., Breitenmoser-Wursten, C., Breitenmoser, U. (Cat Red List Authority) & Schipper, J. (Global Mammal Assessment Team) |
Justification:
Based on typical prey biomass in tropical rainforests, energetic needs of tigers, estimated tiger densities from studies carried out in Taman Negara National Park, Malaysia, and others in tropical Asia, and available tiger habitats in Peninsular Malaysia, Kawanishi et al. (2003) estimated the national tiger population at 493-1,480 adult tigers. The lower bound coincides with the previous population estimate for the country (Topani 1990) and is the number selected as feasible by the country's national tiger action plan (DWNP 2008). However, based on density estimates derived from camera trapping in six sites in Malaysia during the late 1990s, Lynam et al. (2007) suggest a lower population, "up to several hundred." Tigers occur in three large subpopulations (Kawanishi et al. 2003), none likely harboring more than 250 mature breeding individuals. Conservation effectiveness in several of these subpopulations received low scores in a global tiger population survey (Sanderson et al. 2006). Habitat fragmentation due to development projects and agriculture (Kawanishi et al. 2003) and poaching for illegal trade (Nowell 2007, TRAFFIC Southeast Asia in prep.) are the most serious threats that require intensive conservation interventions A continuing decline is these and other factors including human-wildlife conflict, and prey base depletion (DWNP 2008).
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Geographic Range
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| Range Map: |
(click map to view full version)
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Population
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| Population Trend: |
Decreasing
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Habitat and Ecology
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