Stephen Jackson - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Stephen Jackson
Many top-predators are declining and/or threatened. For these reasons, conservation efforts are a... more Many top-predators are declining and/or threatened. For these reasons, conservation efforts are a management priority for many species, and structured management processes are developed to facilitate their conservation. However, this is not presently the case for the dingo, which is threatened by introgression of genetic material from other and more modern dog breeds. There is strong support for dingo conservation from some sectors, but this support lacks the direction of a formal threat abatement plan. Dingo conservation is actively opposed by other sectors. Here, we evaluate the conservation status of Australian dingoes in accordance with the Australian Government’s Threatened Species Scientific Committee Guidelines for assessing the conservation status of native species according to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and also the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000. We also use the International Union for the Conse...
Mammalian Species, 2011
Petaurus gracilis (De Vis, 1883) is a gliding possum commonly known as the mahogany glider. This ... more Petaurus gracilis (De Vis, 1883) is a gliding possum commonly known as the mahogany glider. This species is endemic to open sclerophyll woodland between Tully and Ingham in North Queensland, Australia. Within its distribution P. gracilis occurs in forests dominated by trees of the genera Eucalyptus, Corymbia, Melaleuca, and A cacia. This species is recognized as an endangered species because of habitat loss, high degree of fragmentation of the remaining habitat, its naturally limited distribution, lack of habitat protected within national parks, and the degradation of its habitat from the transition to rain forest and thickening of sclerophyllous vegetation in much of its habitat. Fig. I.-An adult Petaurus gracilis. Used with permission of the Queensland Museum.
Zoosystema, 2021
The expedition commanded by the Frenchman Nicolas Thomas Baudin aboard the ships Le Géographe and... more The expedition commanded by the Frenchman Nicolas Thomas Baudin aboard the ships Le Géographe and Le Naturaliste (and Le Casuarina for the return journey) to the southern hemisphere between 1800-1804 collected specimens from numerous locations including the Canary Islands (Tenerife), Île de France (Mauritius), Cape Town (South Africa), Australia and Timor. Additionally, specimens were donated or purchased from locations not visited including the Comoros, Madagascar and Sumatra. Unfortunately, Baudin died at Île de France on the return trip so the responsibility of the account of the voyage was given to other members of the expedition. Responsibility for writing up the primary account of the voyage was granted to François Péron, who published the first volume of the narrative of the Voyage de Découvertes aux Terres Australes in 1807. Following his death in 1810, the second volume of the narrative was completed by Louis de Freycinet and published in 1816. The other four volumes of the Voyage included three atlases (the first by expedition artists Charles-Alexandre Lesueur and Nicolas-Martin Petit in 1807 and the second and third by Freycinet in 1811 and 1812), and a volume entitled Navigation et Géographie by Freycinet in 1815. Based on recent and ongoing research, a review of many of the original documents is presented here, revealing hitherto unpublished details about who collected and donated mammals to the expedition. Research was conducted mainly in the collections of the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN) in Paris and their associated acquisition books. The Baudin expedition was responsible for an unprecedented collection of over 100 000 specimens of natural history, which remains the single largest collection of natural history specimens from Australia. A total of 101 mammal taxa relating to the Baudin expedition were identified during this study, which included 51 species described as a result of the expedition and 50 species that were described either before or subsequently, but not associated with the expedition. Of the taxa described, 20 species and three subspecies are currently recognised valid. During this study 43 museum specimens that were referable to 29 taxa were identified and at least five specimens seem to have been misplaced based on the information available. These specimens were derived from 24 holotypes, four paratypes, three syntypes, five lectotypes, and six paralectotypes and one topotype that are currently held at the MNHN. Some of these specimens are part of the estimated 51 mammals that were brought back alive to France on the boats. Charles-Alexandre Lesueur's illustrations complemented this study; of the 177 that are held at the Muséum d'Histoire naturelle du Havre, 149 could be attributed to one or more species and 28 were of unidentified species. RÉSUMÉ Mammifères collectés et illustrés au cours de l'Expédition Baudin en Australie et au Timor (1800-1804) : examen de la taxonomie actuelle des spécimens du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle de Paris et des illustrations du Muséum d'Histoire naturelle du Havre. L'expédition commandée par le Français Nicolas Thomas Baudin, à bord des navires Le Géographe et Le Naturaliste (et Le Casuarina pour le retour) vers l'hémisphère sud entre 1800-1804, a permis la collecte de spécimens provenant de nombreux endroits comme les îles Canaries (Tenerife), l'île Maurice (anciennement Île de France), Le Cap (Afrique du Sud), l'Australie et le Timor. Des spécimens ont également été donnés ou achetés dans des endroits non visités comme les Comores, Madagascar et Sumatra. Baudin étant malheureusement décédé à l'île Maurice au cours du voyage de retour, la responsabilité du récit du voyage a été confiée à d'autres personnes, membres de l'expédition. Ainsi, François Péron a publié la majeure partie du récit dans le premier volume du Voyage de Découvertes aux Terres Australes, paru en1807. Après la mort de celui-ci, survenue en 1810, le deuxième volume du récit a été complété par Louis de Freycinet et publié en 1816. Les quatre autres volumes of the Voyage comprennent trois atlas (dont un par les artistes de l'expédition, Charles-Alexandre Lesueur et Nicolas-Martin Petit, paru en 1807, et deux par Freycinet, parus en en 1811 et 1812), et un volume intitulé Navigation et Géographie publié par Freycinet en 1815. Le présent article fait état des recherches récentes et en cours, reprenant de nombreux documents originaux et révélant des détails inédits sur les collecteurs et donateurs des mammifères, recherche menée principalement dans les collections du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN) à Paris et dans les catalogues de collections associés. L'expédition Baudin a permis la collecte de plus de 100 000 spécimens d'histoire naturelle et reste la plus grande collection d'échantillons d'histoire naturelle d'Australie. Au total, nous avons identifié 101 taxons liés à l'expédition Baudin, dont 51 décrits à la suite de l'expédition et 50 décrits avant ou après, mais sans lien direct avec elle. Parmi les taxons décrits, 20 espèces et trois sous-espèces sont toujours reconnues valides à ce jour. À partir des informations disponibles, nous avons également identifié, 43 spécimens appartenant à 29 espèces avec au moins cinq spécimens semblant avoir été égarés. Le MNHN possède 24 holotypes, quatre paratypes, trois syntypes, cinq lectotypes, six paralectotypes et un topotype. Certains de ces spécimens font partie des quelque 51 mammifères ramenés vivants en France sur les bateaux. Les illustrations réalisées par Charles-Alexandre Lesueur complètent ce travail : parmi les 177 conservées au Muséum d'Histoire naturelle du Havre, 149 pourraient être attribuées à une ou plusieurs espèces et 28 correspondent à des espèces non identifiées.
Wildlife and Climate Change, 2012
The endangered Mountain Pygmy-possum Burramys parvus is an alpine-subalpine specialist and the on... more The endangered Mountain Pygmy-possum Burramys parvus is an alpine-subalpine specialist and the only Australian mammal entirely restricted to areas above the winter snowline. There are three geographically isolated populations of B. parvus: Kosciuszko National Park (South Ramshead-Cabramurra) in New South Wales, and Mt Bogong-Mt Higginbotham and Mt Buller in Victoria. Populations have shown signs of rapid decline over the last 15 years. The duration of snow cover and time of snow melt appear to be linked to the survival rate of the Mountain Pygmy-possum which is under severe threat from climate change. Here we discuss its life history, extinction threats and the potential value of the fossil record in identifying conservation options for the Mountain Pygmy-possum. Also presented is a proposal to establish a breeding facility for the rapidly declining Kosciuszko population in New South Wales. This breeding facility would firstly provide a safety net for unanticipated disasters in the alpine and subalpine zone that might occur in the short term. Secondly, the facility would provide an opportunity to address concerns that climate change will eventually transform the subalpine-alpine zone, making it unsuitable for further survival of B. parvus populations. To address this concern, we propose breeding surplus individuals that could be experimentally acclimatised for release into alternate environments.
Petaurus gracilis (De Vis, 1883) is a gliding possum commonly known as the mahogany glider. This ... more Petaurus gracilis (De Vis, 1883) is a gliding possum commonly known as the mahogany glider. This species is endemic to open sclerophyll woodland between Tully and Ingham in North Queensland, Australia. Within its distribution P. gracilis occurs in forests dominated by trees of the genera Eucalyptus, Corymbia, Melaleuca, and A cacia. This species is recognized as an endangered species because of habitat loss, high degree of fragmentation of the remaining habitat, its naturally limited distribution, lack of habitat protected within national parks, and the degradation of its habitat from the transition to rain forest and thickening of sclerophyllous vegetation in much of its habitat. Fig. I.-An adult Petaurus gracilis. Used with permission of the Queensland Museum.
Australian Mammalogy
Key threatening processes to biodiversity include habitat loss and fragmentation, with population... more Key threatening processes to biodiversity include habitat loss and fragmentation, with populations restricted to small fragments of habitat being more prone to extinction. The mahogany glider (Petaurus gracilis) is endemic to sclerophyll woodland forests between Tully and Ingham in north Queensland and is one of Australia’s most endangered arboreal mammals due to these processes. The aim of this study was to identify the degree of habitat fragmentation of the remaining remnant vegetation of the mahogany glider, identify subpopulations within its distribution and identify key wildlife corridors for restoration to facilitate the movement of this species within and between subpopulations. Ten glider subpopulations, spread over 998 habitat fragments, were identified, of which only five subpopulations may currently be considered to be viable. To assist in providing habitat connectivity between and within the subpopulations, 55 corridors were identified for restoration that had an average...
Australian Zoologist
Taxonomy is the science of the classification of living things and comprises two main processes, ... more Taxonomy is the science of the classification of living things and comprises two main processes, defining taxa and naming them. In relation to the taxonomy of the Dingo, the scientific name has been unstable for many years. It has been referred to as Canis familiaris, Canis familiaris dingo, Canis lupus familiaris, Canis lupus dingo or Canis dingo. The nomenclature, however, has become even more unstable in recent years with advocacy for the name Canis dingo by some authors in spite of a lack of morphological differentiation or interfertility between Dingo and Domestic Dog hybrids. As a result, there is a need to review the taxonomy of the Dingo with the aim of confirming its correct scientific name in order to promote stability. Using the most widely accepted species concepts, we reviewed the taxonomy of the Dingo by objectively dissecting each of the proposed arguments for recognising the Dingo as a distinct species. We conclude that the most appropriate taxonomic name to use for ...
Zootaxa
Adopting the name Canis dingo for the Dingo to explicitly denote a species-level taxon separate f... more Adopting the name Canis dingo for the Dingo to explicitly denote a species-level taxon separate from other canids was suggested by Crowther et al. (2014) as a means to eliminate taxonomic instability and contention. However, Jackson et al. (2017), using standard taxonomic and nomenclatural approaches and principles, called instead for continued use of the nomen C. familiaris for all domestic dogs and their derivatives, including the Dingo. (This name, C. familiaris, is applied to all dogs that derive from the domesticated version of the Gray Wolf, Canis lupus, based on nomenclatural convention.) The primary reasons for this call by Jackson et al. (2017) were: (1) a lack of evidence to show that recognizing multiple species amongst the dog, including the Dingo and New Guinea Singing Dog, was necessary taxonomically, and (2) the principle of nomenclatural priority (the name familiaris Linnaeus, 1758, antedates dingo Meyer, 1793). Overwhelming current evidence from archaeology and g...
Zootaxa
The taxonomic identity and status of the Australian Dingo has been unsettled and controversial si... more The taxonomic identity and status of the Australian Dingo has been unsettled and controversial since its initial description in 1792. Since that time it has been referred to by various names including Canis dingo, Canis lupus dingo, Canis familiaris and Canis familiaris dingo. Of these names C. l. dingo and C. f. dingo have been most often used, but it has recently been proposed that the Australian Dingo should be once again recognized as a full species—Canis dingo. There is an urgent need to address the instability of the names referring to the Dingo because of the consequences for management and policy. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the morphological, genetic, ecological and biological data to determine the taxonomic relationships of the Dingo with the aim of confirming the correct scientific name. The recent proposal for Canis dingo as the most appropriate name is not sustainable under zoological nomenclature protocols nor based on the genetic and morpholog...
There are 64 species of extant gliding mammals that are currently recognized, which are divided i... more There are 64 species of extant gliding mammals that are currently recognized, which are divided into six different families. These comprise eight species of gliding marsupials that live within Australasia and include six species of lesser gliding possums of Petaurus (family Petauridae), one species of greater glider of Petauroides (family Pseudocheiridae), and one species of feathertail glider of Acrobates (family Acrobatidae). The flying squirrels of the tribe Pteromyini within the rodent family Sciuridae represent the greatest diversity of gliding mammals, with a total of 48 species in 15 genera currently recognized, and occur throughout Asia, Europe, and North America. A second group of gliding rodents, known as the scaly-tailed flying squirrels, comprises six species from the family Anomaluridae that live in central and western Africa. The most specialized and unique of the extant gliding mammals are the enigmatic colugos, or flying lemurs, of the order Dermoptera that comprise two species and occur throughout Southeast Asia and the Philippines. In addition to the extant species there are various fossils of extinct species that are thought to have had an ability to glide, although there has been a lot of debate over most of these taxa. These fossil taxa include 3 marsupials, 18 dermopterans, 51 flying squirrels, 7 species of scaly-tailed flying squirrels, and 1 extinct species in each of the families Myoxidae, Eomyidae, and Volaticotheriidae. The taxonomic status of many living and extinct gliding mammals is still in a state of flux, and significant further revision of the taxonomic status of many groups still needs to be resolved.
Australian Journal of Zoology, 1999
... Abstract Known locality records of the mahogany glider (Petaurus gracilis) and the squirrel g... more ... Abstract Known locality records of the mahogany glider (Petaurus gracilis) and the squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) in Queensland were used to predict the distributional limits of both of these species within Queensland using the computer program BIOCLIM. ...
Many top-predators are declining and/or threatened. For these reasons, conservation efforts are a... more Many top-predators are declining and/or threatened. For these reasons, conservation efforts are a management priority for many species, and structured management processes are developed to facilitate their conservation. However, this is not presently the case for the dingo, which is threatened by introgression of genetic material from other and more modern dog breeds. There is strong support for dingo conservation from some sectors, but this support lacks the direction of a formal threat abatement plan. Dingo conservation is actively opposed by other sectors. Here, we evaluate the conservation status of Australian dingoes in accordance with the Australian Government’s Threatened Species Scientific Committee Guidelines for assessing the conservation status of native species according to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and also the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000. We also use the International Union for the Conse...
Mammalian Species, 2011
Petaurus gracilis (De Vis, 1883) is a gliding possum commonly known as the mahogany glider. This ... more Petaurus gracilis (De Vis, 1883) is a gliding possum commonly known as the mahogany glider. This species is endemic to open sclerophyll woodland between Tully and Ingham in North Queensland, Australia. Within its distribution P. gracilis occurs in forests dominated by trees of the genera Eucalyptus, Corymbia, Melaleuca, and A cacia. This species is recognized as an endangered species because of habitat loss, high degree of fragmentation of the remaining habitat, its naturally limited distribution, lack of habitat protected within national parks, and the degradation of its habitat from the transition to rain forest and thickening of sclerophyllous vegetation in much of its habitat. Fig. I.-An adult Petaurus gracilis. Used with permission of the Queensland Museum.
Zoosystema, 2021
The expedition commanded by the Frenchman Nicolas Thomas Baudin aboard the ships Le Géographe and... more The expedition commanded by the Frenchman Nicolas Thomas Baudin aboard the ships Le Géographe and Le Naturaliste (and Le Casuarina for the return journey) to the southern hemisphere between 1800-1804 collected specimens from numerous locations including the Canary Islands (Tenerife), Île de France (Mauritius), Cape Town (South Africa), Australia and Timor. Additionally, specimens were donated or purchased from locations not visited including the Comoros, Madagascar and Sumatra. Unfortunately, Baudin died at Île de France on the return trip so the responsibility of the account of the voyage was given to other members of the expedition. Responsibility for writing up the primary account of the voyage was granted to François Péron, who published the first volume of the narrative of the Voyage de Découvertes aux Terres Australes in 1807. Following his death in 1810, the second volume of the narrative was completed by Louis de Freycinet and published in 1816. The other four volumes of the Voyage included three atlases (the first by expedition artists Charles-Alexandre Lesueur and Nicolas-Martin Petit in 1807 and the second and third by Freycinet in 1811 and 1812), and a volume entitled Navigation et Géographie by Freycinet in 1815. Based on recent and ongoing research, a review of many of the original documents is presented here, revealing hitherto unpublished details about who collected and donated mammals to the expedition. Research was conducted mainly in the collections of the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN) in Paris and their associated acquisition books. The Baudin expedition was responsible for an unprecedented collection of over 100 000 specimens of natural history, which remains the single largest collection of natural history specimens from Australia. A total of 101 mammal taxa relating to the Baudin expedition were identified during this study, which included 51 species described as a result of the expedition and 50 species that were described either before or subsequently, but not associated with the expedition. Of the taxa described, 20 species and three subspecies are currently recognised valid. During this study 43 museum specimens that were referable to 29 taxa were identified and at least five specimens seem to have been misplaced based on the information available. These specimens were derived from 24 holotypes, four paratypes, three syntypes, five lectotypes, and six paralectotypes and one topotype that are currently held at the MNHN. Some of these specimens are part of the estimated 51 mammals that were brought back alive to France on the boats. Charles-Alexandre Lesueur's illustrations complemented this study; of the 177 that are held at the Muséum d'Histoire naturelle du Havre, 149 could be attributed to one or more species and 28 were of unidentified species. RÉSUMÉ Mammifères collectés et illustrés au cours de l'Expédition Baudin en Australie et au Timor (1800-1804) : examen de la taxonomie actuelle des spécimens du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle de Paris et des illustrations du Muséum d'Histoire naturelle du Havre. L'expédition commandée par le Français Nicolas Thomas Baudin, à bord des navires Le Géographe et Le Naturaliste (et Le Casuarina pour le retour) vers l'hémisphère sud entre 1800-1804, a permis la collecte de spécimens provenant de nombreux endroits comme les îles Canaries (Tenerife), l'île Maurice (anciennement Île de France), Le Cap (Afrique du Sud), l'Australie et le Timor. Des spécimens ont également été donnés ou achetés dans des endroits non visités comme les Comores, Madagascar et Sumatra. Baudin étant malheureusement décédé à l'île Maurice au cours du voyage de retour, la responsabilité du récit du voyage a été confiée à d'autres personnes, membres de l'expédition. Ainsi, François Péron a publié la majeure partie du récit dans le premier volume du Voyage de Découvertes aux Terres Australes, paru en1807. Après la mort de celui-ci, survenue en 1810, le deuxième volume du récit a été complété par Louis de Freycinet et publié en 1816. Les quatre autres volumes of the Voyage comprennent trois atlas (dont un par les artistes de l'expédition, Charles-Alexandre Lesueur et Nicolas-Martin Petit, paru en 1807, et deux par Freycinet, parus en en 1811 et 1812), et un volume intitulé Navigation et Géographie publié par Freycinet en 1815. Le présent article fait état des recherches récentes et en cours, reprenant de nombreux documents originaux et révélant des détails inédits sur les collecteurs et donateurs des mammifères, recherche menée principalement dans les collections du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN) à Paris et dans les catalogues de collections associés. L'expédition Baudin a permis la collecte de plus de 100 000 spécimens d'histoire naturelle et reste la plus grande collection d'échantillons d'histoire naturelle d'Australie. Au total, nous avons identifié 101 taxons liés à l'expédition Baudin, dont 51 décrits à la suite de l'expédition et 50 décrits avant ou après, mais sans lien direct avec elle. Parmi les taxons décrits, 20 espèces et trois sous-espèces sont toujours reconnues valides à ce jour. À partir des informations disponibles, nous avons également identifié, 43 spécimens appartenant à 29 espèces avec au moins cinq spécimens semblant avoir été égarés. Le MNHN possède 24 holotypes, quatre paratypes, trois syntypes, cinq lectotypes, six paralectotypes et un topotype. Certains de ces spécimens font partie des quelque 51 mammifères ramenés vivants en France sur les bateaux. Les illustrations réalisées par Charles-Alexandre Lesueur complètent ce travail : parmi les 177 conservées au Muséum d'Histoire naturelle du Havre, 149 pourraient être attribuées à une ou plusieurs espèces et 28 correspondent à des espèces non identifiées.
Wildlife and Climate Change, 2012
The endangered Mountain Pygmy-possum Burramys parvus is an alpine-subalpine specialist and the on... more The endangered Mountain Pygmy-possum Burramys parvus is an alpine-subalpine specialist and the only Australian mammal entirely restricted to areas above the winter snowline. There are three geographically isolated populations of B. parvus: Kosciuszko National Park (South Ramshead-Cabramurra) in New South Wales, and Mt Bogong-Mt Higginbotham and Mt Buller in Victoria. Populations have shown signs of rapid decline over the last 15 years. The duration of snow cover and time of snow melt appear to be linked to the survival rate of the Mountain Pygmy-possum which is under severe threat from climate change. Here we discuss its life history, extinction threats and the potential value of the fossil record in identifying conservation options for the Mountain Pygmy-possum. Also presented is a proposal to establish a breeding facility for the rapidly declining Kosciuszko population in New South Wales. This breeding facility would firstly provide a safety net for unanticipated disasters in the alpine and subalpine zone that might occur in the short term. Secondly, the facility would provide an opportunity to address concerns that climate change will eventually transform the subalpine-alpine zone, making it unsuitable for further survival of B. parvus populations. To address this concern, we propose breeding surplus individuals that could be experimentally acclimatised for release into alternate environments.
Petaurus gracilis (De Vis, 1883) is a gliding possum commonly known as the mahogany glider. This ... more Petaurus gracilis (De Vis, 1883) is a gliding possum commonly known as the mahogany glider. This species is endemic to open sclerophyll woodland between Tully and Ingham in North Queensland, Australia. Within its distribution P. gracilis occurs in forests dominated by trees of the genera Eucalyptus, Corymbia, Melaleuca, and A cacia. This species is recognized as an endangered species because of habitat loss, high degree of fragmentation of the remaining habitat, its naturally limited distribution, lack of habitat protected within national parks, and the degradation of its habitat from the transition to rain forest and thickening of sclerophyllous vegetation in much of its habitat. Fig. I.-An adult Petaurus gracilis. Used with permission of the Queensland Museum.
Australian Mammalogy
Key threatening processes to biodiversity include habitat loss and fragmentation, with population... more Key threatening processes to biodiversity include habitat loss and fragmentation, with populations restricted to small fragments of habitat being more prone to extinction. The mahogany glider (Petaurus gracilis) is endemic to sclerophyll woodland forests between Tully and Ingham in north Queensland and is one of Australia’s most endangered arboreal mammals due to these processes. The aim of this study was to identify the degree of habitat fragmentation of the remaining remnant vegetation of the mahogany glider, identify subpopulations within its distribution and identify key wildlife corridors for restoration to facilitate the movement of this species within and between subpopulations. Ten glider subpopulations, spread over 998 habitat fragments, were identified, of which only five subpopulations may currently be considered to be viable. To assist in providing habitat connectivity between and within the subpopulations, 55 corridors were identified for restoration that had an average...
Australian Zoologist
Taxonomy is the science of the classification of living things and comprises two main processes, ... more Taxonomy is the science of the classification of living things and comprises two main processes, defining taxa and naming them. In relation to the taxonomy of the Dingo, the scientific name has been unstable for many years. It has been referred to as Canis familiaris, Canis familiaris dingo, Canis lupus familiaris, Canis lupus dingo or Canis dingo. The nomenclature, however, has become even more unstable in recent years with advocacy for the name Canis dingo by some authors in spite of a lack of morphological differentiation or interfertility between Dingo and Domestic Dog hybrids. As a result, there is a need to review the taxonomy of the Dingo with the aim of confirming its correct scientific name in order to promote stability. Using the most widely accepted species concepts, we reviewed the taxonomy of the Dingo by objectively dissecting each of the proposed arguments for recognising the Dingo as a distinct species. We conclude that the most appropriate taxonomic name to use for ...
Zootaxa
Adopting the name Canis dingo for the Dingo to explicitly denote a species-level taxon separate f... more Adopting the name Canis dingo for the Dingo to explicitly denote a species-level taxon separate from other canids was suggested by Crowther et al. (2014) as a means to eliminate taxonomic instability and contention. However, Jackson et al. (2017), using standard taxonomic and nomenclatural approaches and principles, called instead for continued use of the nomen C. familiaris for all domestic dogs and their derivatives, including the Dingo. (This name, C. familiaris, is applied to all dogs that derive from the domesticated version of the Gray Wolf, Canis lupus, based on nomenclatural convention.) The primary reasons for this call by Jackson et al. (2017) were: (1) a lack of evidence to show that recognizing multiple species amongst the dog, including the Dingo and New Guinea Singing Dog, was necessary taxonomically, and (2) the principle of nomenclatural priority (the name familiaris Linnaeus, 1758, antedates dingo Meyer, 1793). Overwhelming current evidence from archaeology and g...
Zootaxa
The taxonomic identity and status of the Australian Dingo has been unsettled and controversial si... more The taxonomic identity and status of the Australian Dingo has been unsettled and controversial since its initial description in 1792. Since that time it has been referred to by various names including Canis dingo, Canis lupus dingo, Canis familiaris and Canis familiaris dingo. Of these names C. l. dingo and C. f. dingo have been most often used, but it has recently been proposed that the Australian Dingo should be once again recognized as a full species—Canis dingo. There is an urgent need to address the instability of the names referring to the Dingo because of the consequences for management and policy. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the morphological, genetic, ecological and biological data to determine the taxonomic relationships of the Dingo with the aim of confirming the correct scientific name. The recent proposal for Canis dingo as the most appropriate name is not sustainable under zoological nomenclature protocols nor based on the genetic and morpholog...
There are 64 species of extant gliding mammals that are currently recognized, which are divided i... more There are 64 species of extant gliding mammals that are currently recognized, which are divided into six different families. These comprise eight species of gliding marsupials that live within Australasia and include six species of lesser gliding possums of Petaurus (family Petauridae), one species of greater glider of Petauroides (family Pseudocheiridae), and one species of feathertail glider of Acrobates (family Acrobatidae). The flying squirrels of the tribe Pteromyini within the rodent family Sciuridae represent the greatest diversity of gliding mammals, with a total of 48 species in 15 genera currently recognized, and occur throughout Asia, Europe, and North America. A second group of gliding rodents, known as the scaly-tailed flying squirrels, comprises six species from the family Anomaluridae that live in central and western Africa. The most specialized and unique of the extant gliding mammals are the enigmatic colugos, or flying lemurs, of the order Dermoptera that comprise two species and occur throughout Southeast Asia and the Philippines. In addition to the extant species there are various fossils of extinct species that are thought to have had an ability to glide, although there has been a lot of debate over most of these taxa. These fossil taxa include 3 marsupials, 18 dermopterans, 51 flying squirrels, 7 species of scaly-tailed flying squirrels, and 1 extinct species in each of the families Myoxidae, Eomyidae, and Volaticotheriidae. The taxonomic status of many living and extinct gliding mammals is still in a state of flux, and significant further revision of the taxonomic status of many groups still needs to be resolved.
Australian Journal of Zoology, 1999
... Abstract Known locality records of the mahogany glider (Petaurus gracilis) and the squirrel g... more ... Abstract Known locality records of the mahogany glider (Petaurus gracilis) and the squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) in Queensland were used to predict the distributional limits of both of these species within Queensland using the computer program BIOCLIM. ...