The Indian scientific community has made an exciting discovery in the field of animal conservation. A team from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and University College London (UCL) has identified six different color morphs of the golden cat in the Dibang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh. This discovery could have significant implications for understanding the resilience capacity of species to climate change and habitat degradation.
Understanding Color Morphs
Color morphs refer to the occurrence of two or more distinct color forms of the same animal within a population. An example of a popular color morph is the black panther, which is a color variant of the common leopard. These morphs are believed to originate from random genetic mutations and become prevalent in a population through natural selection.
The scientists found tightly-rosetted, cinnamon, melanistic, gray, golden, and ocelot type color morphs in the golden cat population of Dibang Valley. Remarkably, this valley hosts the world’s most diverse range of color morphs of a wild cat species ever reported at a single location.
The Significance of Discovering Color Morphs
Comprehending the evolutionary theory of color morphs can provide insights into how quickly species can adapt and evolve in varying environments. This understanding is valuable for assessing the resilience of species to challenges like climate change, habitat degradation, and destruction.
| Color Morph | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Tightly-Rosetted | Helps in camouflage |
| Cinnamon | May blend in with forest vegetation |
| Melanistic | Provides better heat absorption in colder climates |
| Gray | Effective in mixed terrain |
| Golden | Good for grasslands and mossy areas |
| Ocelot type | Suitable for various habitat types |
About the Asiatic Golden Cat
The Asiatic Golden Cat is a medium-sized wild cat native to the northeastern Indian subcontinent. Listed as near threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Red List, the golden cat features in Wildlife Protection Act’s schedule 1. Furthermore, it is included in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) appendix 1.
Dibang Valley: A Natural Wonder
Situated in the northeasternmost corner of Arunachal Pradesh, Dibang Valley is the largest district but holds the distinction of having India’s lowest population density. It was here, in its upper reaches, that India’s first ‘snow tigers’ were spotted.
