Forensic genetics associated with hair analysis as a tool for jaguar (Panthera onca) identification

Abstract

Animal smuggling and illegal wildlife trade comprise one of the most common crimes being committed on an international level. This action can affect biodiversity and most certainly increases the risk of extinction of several endangered species. Wildlife taxonomic identification is becoming routine to forensic experts. The aim of this study was to identify a possible jaguar sample (Panthera onca Linnaeus, 1958) from legal evidence using hair morphology and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to help in an official animal identification. Scanning and optical microscope images of hair samples were used to compare diagnostic characteristics of felines to reference studies. A preserved region, (cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI)), from mtDNA was sequenced and compared to a DNA database (GenBank) to perform genetic identification. Forensic genetic and hair analysis techniques combined positively identified the sample as jaguar. These methods can help practitioners and forensics experts to identify evidence collected in wildlife crimes suspected to involve jaguars.