Fascinating discussion this. Can I be the first to use the word "wapitoid"? Oh, and y'all forgot the sika.
Below is an abstract. It basically says - no-one knows what the difference is, and that's if you ignore the common names. It also says that in a few years it'll have changed anyway. It is taxonomy.
If anyone's really interested, I could try and get the paper - it might have a phylogeny. A picture!
Sam.
Title: A mitochondrial DNA control region phylogeny of the Cervinae:
speciation in Cervus and implications for conservation
Author(s): Randi E, Mucci N, Claro-Hergueta F, Bonnet A, Douzery EJP
Source: ANIMAL CONSERVATION 4: 1-11 Part 1, FEB 2001
Document Type: Article
Language: English
Cited References: 47 Times Cited: 32
Abstract: Sequences from complete mitochondrial control legions (mtDNA
CR) were used to infer phylogenetic relationships in 25 Cervinae taxa.
Cervus splits into clades that are partially discordant with current
species delimitations. Nominate Cervus elaphus includes two divergent
clades that must be referred to as species elaphus (European elaphoid
deer) and canadensis (Eurasian and North American wapitoid deer).
Cervus nippon splits into Japanese and continental plus Taiwan sika.
Pere David's deer is nested within Cervus. suggesting that Elaphurus
should be merged with Cen,us. European and Persian fallow deer are
genetically divergent and distinct species. Sequence length varied due
to a CR-I insertion, tandemly repented twice in rusa and sambar deer,
sika and wapiti, and repeated up to six times in a clade of Japanese
sika. Variable copy numbers of this repeat are also fixed in different
sika subspecies, and could be used as a diagnostic marker for
subspecies. Sequence variability at the mtDNA CR is informative for
defining species and subspecies boundaries, and for locating the
geographical origin of captive-reared stocks. Natural and fanned
populations of some species have been deeply affected by human
management and the conservation of deer populations would be aided by
the appropriate identification of the different evolutionary and
taxonomic: units.
Here's another one.
Title: The phylogeny and behaviour of Cervidae (Ruminantia Pecora)
Author(s): Cap H, Aulagnier S, Deleporte P
Source: ETHOLOGY ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION 14 (3): 199-216 OCT 2002
Document Type: Article
Language: English
Cited References: 82 Times Cited: 3
Abstract: The phylogenetic relationships of Cervidae within the family
and within the infra-order Pecora are still uncertain. Traditionally
based on morphological data, phylogenetic trees have increasingly
relied on molecular data for the last 15 years, without reaching a
satisfying consensus solution. This study intends to explore behaviour,
between the rutting and nursing periods, as a new data set for the
establishment of phylogenetic relationships between the several species
of Cervidae, and also between Cervidae and other living Pecora families
(Antilocapridae, Bovidae, Giraffidae and Moschidae). Separate analysis
of behavioural data was performed, followed by combined analysis of
behavioural characters together with morphological and cytological
ones. Simultaneous analysis of all characters showed that Cervidae form
a monophyletic group made up of two lineages: plesiometacarpalians or
Cervinae (Muntiacus (Dama, Cervus)), and telemetacarpalian cervids
including Hydropotinae and Capreolinae (Hydropotes (Capreolus (Alces
(Odocoileus, Rangifer)))). Moschidae appear as the sister group of
Cervidae, and Bovidae seem more closely related to Cervoidea than are
Giraffidae. An Eurasiatic origin for Cervidae is suggested. Our results
also indicate that Hydropotes is secondarily antlerless. Ancestral
ethotypes were reconstructed for several clades. On the basis of this
case study, the relevance of behavioural characters for phylogenetic
systematics is discussed.
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