The Origin, Differentiation and Change of Subspecies

South China tiger not only plays an extremely important role in the ecosystem, but also has irreplaceable scientific value in studying the origin and evolution of tigers. I personally support the view that tigers originated in South China (that is, the original distribution area of South China tigers) and then spread in two main directions, that is, tigers entered Southwest Asia along the forests and water systems in the northwest; Along the south and southwest, it enters Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, and the last part enters Indonesia. In the process of diffusion and radiation adaptation, tigers evolved into eight subspecies.

Modern tiger fossils were first discovered in Gongwangling, Lantian, Shaanxi. The estimated time is the early Middle Pleistocene, that is, about 600,000 years ago. 1998, Academician Qiu Zhanxiang of IVPP thought that the earliest tiger fossil found in China may be the Panthera tigris palaeosinensis in China about 2 million years ago (the lithology of the fossil is red soil). Chinese sturgeon was built by Swedish paleontologist Zdanski in 1924. This specimen was unearthed at No.38 site in Langou, Mianchi, Henan Province, and a new specimen was recently unearthed in Gansu Province. At present, the specimens of this species are very rare. There are only three skulls in the world, one is abroad and the other two are kept in Beijing. (Madzak, 2006). 1967, a famous feline scientist, Professor Hemmer of Gutenberg University, Germany, wrote a paper and discussed the nature of this species in detail. After a very detailed study, Professor Hemmer thinks that most features are close to tigers, but some features are unique to leopards. He also thinks that the tiger in ancient China should be a subspecies of the tiger. Some people say that the skull of the South China tiger is the most primitive of the eight recognized tiger subspecies, which is unfounded. At present, no one has taken out the skull of China ancient tiger and compared it with that of South China tiger in detail.

Panthera tigris amoyensis was named by German zoologist Hilzheimer in 1905 according to five tiger skull specimens in Hankou (present-day Wuhan). The name amoyensis is the Latin term for amoy (Xiamen), because the South China Tiger was first discovered by an American biologist in Xiamen Island. The skull of South China Tiger is obviously smaller than that of Northeast Tiger and Indian Tiger, and the average length of male tiger's skull is only 365,438+08 mm (Mazak, 2004).

The Original Distribution and Quantity of Wild South China Tigers

This subspecies has been widely distributed in the vast areas of East China, Central China, South China and Southwest China, as well as parts of Shaanxi, Longdong, West Henan and South Shanxi (Hubei, Jiangxi, Guizhou, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Zhejiang, Hubei, Sichuan, Henan, Shaanxi, Shanxi and Gansu, etc.). ? A prank, a kiss of disaster?

The original distribution area is roughly (more than 2,000 kilometers from east to west and more than 500 kilometers from north to south/kloc-0):

East longitude 1 190~ 1200 (Zhejiang-Fujian border)

Approximately 1000 E (Qingchuan border)

South latitude 2 10~350 (Qinling to Yellow River)

In 1950s and 1960s:

According to the incomplete statistics of the annual purchasing volume of tiger skins in China fur market, the whole country bought 1956/750 tiger skins. Tigers were found in more than 20 counties in Jiangxi Province in 1950s, and tigers 1955- 1956 were captured in the whole province. In the 1950s and 1960s, tigers were not found in Wanxian County in eastern Sichuan and Daba Mountain area at the junction of Shaanxi, Sichuan and Hubei. Hunan province1952-1953 * *170 the tiger was caught. From 65438 to 0964, according to the number of tiger bones and skins purchased by various places, Mr. Shou estimated that about 800 South China tigers were killed every year, which was obviously suspected of "releasing satellites". 1966 Anhui also caught tigers. In the early 1950s, there were more than 50 tigers hunting in Guangdong Province, while in the 1960s, there were only about 20 tigers. The tiger was caught by 1958 in Qingzhen, central Guizhou, and 1959 in Weijing, western Guizhou. Tigers in Qinling Mountains became extinct in 1960s. At least 60 tigers were killed in Henan province.

From 1970s to 1990s.

After 1970, the annual hunting amount of tigers in South China in Jiangxi was insufficient, and after 10, no tigers were caught. In the early 1970s, Henan Province caught seven tigers a year and Zhejiang Province caught three tigers a year. In 1970s, less than 10 tigers were killed in Guangdong province. The wild tiger was finally caught in 1976 Hunan. In the late 1970s, it was estimated that the number of wild South China tigers in China was 40-80. The last tiger captured in Shanxi Province was found in Yuanping County in June 5438+0974 and June 5438+0. From 65438 to 0979, China only received a tiger skin. Since 1980s, the number of wild South China tigers has been very small, and it is estimated that the total number of wild South China tigers in China is 30-80. The last wild tiger caught in Hubei was 1983. 1 cub was found in Baihuwan Forest Farm of Lichuan City, and then sent to Chongqing Zoo. 1987 according to the statistics in May, there are 4 adult tigers and 12 cubs in Guangdong Province. 1990- 1992, a survey of South China tigers and their habitats conducted by the former Ministry of Forestry and the World Wildlife Fund estimated that there were 20-30 South China tigers in the border areas of Guangdong, Hunan, Jiangxi and Fujian.

265438+Early 20th century

During the investigation and search of South China tigers and their habitats from 2000 to 200 1 year, no wild tigers were seen. Some foreign scholars believe that the wild South China tiger has become extinct.

Distribution status of wild South China tigers

It has been decades now, and there is no strong evidence that tigers exist in many areas where there are rumors of tigers. In recent years, tigers have been found in southern Hunan, northern Hunan, central Jiangxi, northern Guangdong and western Fujian, but there are no photos to prove it. The following are places (6 provinces) where wild South China tigers have been found in recent 20 years. The estimated number is 15, and the actual number may be less.

One: Jiangxi (6 potential distribution areas, the number is unknown)

1. Lushan Mountain (Yihuang, Le 'an, Nanfeng, Chongren, Cheng Nan, Guangchang and Du Ji counties)

2. Luo Xiao Mountains (Shangsu, Lianhua, Tonggu, Jungang, Jinggangshan and Yongxin County)

3. Wuyishan Vein (five counties of lead mountain, Guixi, Zixi, Ruijin and Shicheng)

4. Huaiwushan Mountains (Dexing and other two counties)

5. Mountainous areas of Sam (Xiushui, Wuning, Jing 'an and Yongxiu counties)

Two: Guangdong (3 potential distribution areas, 5-6 species of animals)

1. Dadongshan-Babaoshan film (Lianzhou, Yangshan, Ruyuan, Lechang)

2. Chebaling-Huangniushi Pian (in Shixing, Wengyuan and Li Anping counties)

3. Guanyin Mountain movies in Shiwan (Renhua, Nanxiong, Lechang, etc. )

Three: Hunan (two potential distribution areas, according to the latest statistics, there are still three)

1: Hupingshan Nature Reserve

2. Mangshan Nature Reserve

Four: Fujian (two potential distribution areas, the number is unknown)

1: Meihuashan Nature Reserve

2. Sanming, Fujian Province

Five: Zhejiang (1 potential distribution area, estimated to be 3)

1: Qingyuan baishanzu National Nature Reserve.

Six: Guizhou (3 potential distribution areas, the number is unknown)

1: Wuling Mountain with Fan Jing as the core.

2. Chishui, Xishui and the border areas of Sichuan and Chongqing.

3. Lengshui River is at the junction of Jinsha County and Chuqing and Sichuan.

The famous South China Tiger bloodline

The pedigree of South China tigers established by China Zoo Association (CAZG) recorded in detail the breeding situation of 307 South China tigers in China in the past 46 years (* * * gave birth to 122, with 287 cubs). The existing captive South China tigers are scattered in 22 units across the country, with 57 animals, which is a declining population. Through the analysis of SPARKS and GENES software, it was found that the genetic diversity of captive population decreased gradually from 1977, and the inbreeding coefficient increased continuously.

The captive breeding of South China Tiger in China began at 1955. That year, 1 female South China tiger was captured in the wild in Sichuan. They were called MENG.

Child), the pedigree number is "1". It was first transported to Hebei, kept temporarily for a period of time, then transported to Shanghai for captivity on 15, and then transported to Hefei xiaoyaojin Zoo on 1970, and died in the same year. During the 46 years from 1955 to 200 1, 307 South China tigers (the number of individuals registered by genealogy) have been kept in 40 zoos or parks in large and medium-sized cities in China. Among them, male 158, female 1 17, 32 cubs died at birth, and their sex was not recorded. Only four zoos in Sudan and North Korea have exhibited six South China tigers abroad.

The artificial breeding of South China Tiger began at 1963 Qianling Park in Guiyang. 1 in 958, wild male south China tiger1was captured from Qingzhen, Guizhou. 1963 mated with 1 wild female south China tiger captured in Changshun, Guizhou and 1 wild female south China tiger captured in Bijie, Guizhou in 1959. Two female South China tigers gave birth to 1 male, 1 female, 2 cubs and 1 female cubs respectively, and have lived all over the country for 38 years.

South China tiger * * * gave birth to 287 fetuses 122, except 32 fetuses died, male 15 1 and female 104. In 46 years of captivity, 250 South China tigers died. The age of death of 19 1 animals can be accurately determined, and their average life span is 10 179 years old. Among the 266 recorded larvae, 1 17 died within 30 days after birth, with a mortality rate as high as 44%. The mortality rate of adults aged 4- 12 is 4 %-5%, and the mortality rate of adults aged 13 is increasing.

The oldest recorded age is about 24 years old (female). The pedigree number of this individual is "25", which was captured by 1966 in the field in Hunan. At that time, it was about 2 years old and was sent to Changsha for captivity. 1980 to Chongqing, 1982 to Luoyang. 1died on June 9, 988 and was imprisoned for 22 years.

The Siberian tiger was listed in Appendix I of CITES Convention on 198 1.

The South China Tiger is now looking for traces in Chongqing.

After nearly 30 years of extinction, the wild South China tiger was first discovered in Chongqing. Some time ago, zoologists who had just finished the "Chongqing Terrestrial Wildlife Survey" blew up: when they visited the hinterland of Daba Mountain virgin forest in Chengkou County, they found the trace of wild South China tiger for the first time.

The place where the South China Tiger was found is located in the Daba Mountain virgin forest in Chengkou County, the northernmost part of Chongqing. Known as "the last primeval forest in Chongqing", it borders ziyang, Shaanxi Province. The animal experts who participated in the census walked in the shade of trees for a whole day, but there was no sun. When the team members went to lingnan village Red Star Society in Gaonan Township, the hinterland of the virgin forest, they got a message from the villagers: A few days ago, a tiger dug up the dead dog buried in the ground by the director of the credit union and ate it. In addition, some local residents reported to the investigation team that in the spring of 1998, a big tiger was seen walking in the forest with two little tigers. When the tiger saw the man, he ran away quickly.

According to experts' analysis, Daba Mountain virgin forest is the traditional distribution area of South China tigers. This survey shows that there are still the remaining individuals of wild South China tigers in this forest. This is the third place where South China Tiger was discovered in China after Zhejiang and Jiangxi.