Forensic application of DNA barcoding for identification of illegally traded African pangolin scales.
The escalating growth in illegal wildlife trade and anthropogenic habitat changes threaten the survival of pangolin species worldwide. All eight extant species have experienced drastic population size reductions globally with a high extinction risk in Asia. Consequently, forensic services have become critical for law enforcement, with a need for standardised and validated genetic methods for reliable identifications. The seizure of three tonnes of pangolin scales, believed to have originated from Africa, by Hong Kong Customs Authorities provided an opportunity for the application of DNA barcoding in identifying scales. Three mitochondrial DNA gene regions (COI, Cyt b, and D-loop) were amplified for a subsample of the confiscated material and compared with taxonomically verified references. All four African species were recovered as monophyletic with high interspecific uncorrected p-distance estimates (0.048-0.188) among genes. However, only three of four African species (Phataginus tricuspis, Phataginus tetradactyla, and Smutsia gigantea, originating from West and Central Africa) and one of four Asian species (Manis javanica from Southeast Asia) were identified among scales. Although the assignment of unknown scales to specific species was reliable, additional genetic tools and representative reference material are required to determine geographic origins of confiscated pangolin specimens.
a National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (NZG), P.O. Box 754, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.
Monica
M
Mwale
a National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (NZG), P.O. Box 754, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.|b Genetics Department, University of the Free State (UFS), P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa.
Desire L
DL
Dalton
c Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), P/Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.|d African Pangolin Working Group (APWG).
Raymond
R
Jansen
a National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (NZG), P.O. Box 754, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.|b Genetics Department, University of the Free State (UFS), P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa.
Marli
M
De Bruyn
d African Pangolin Working Group (APWG).
Darren
D
Pietersen
a National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (NZG), P.O. Box 754, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.
Prudent S
PS
Mokgokong
a National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (NZG), P.O. Box 754, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.|b Genetics Department, University of the Free State (UFS), P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa.|d African Pangolin Working Group (APWG).
Antoinette
A
Kotzé
D000349:Africa; D000818:Animals; D001208:Asia; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003415:Crime; D045303:Cytochromes b / Q000235:genetics; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic / Q000379:methods*; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D017753:Ecosystem; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism; D005843:Geography; D008322:Mammals / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D045303:Cytochromes b; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV
DNA barcoding; Manis; Smutsia; codage à barres de l’ADN; commerce illégal d’espèces sauvages; confiscation d’écailles de pangolin; forensic genetics; génétique criminalistique; illegal wildlife trade; pangolin scale confiscation; pangolins