Gary J. Galbreath

Genetic resolution of composition and phylogenetic placement of the isabelline bear

Abstract We sequenced part of the mitochondrial control region of 2 Himalayan Ursus arctos isabellinus individuals and compared it with that of other U. arctos. Results indicate that the valid allopatric subspecies U. a. isabellinus represents an ancient clade and includes the Gobi bear of Mongolia as a relict population.

An apparent hybrid wild bear from Cambodia

Abstract An apparent instance of hybridization in the wild between Ursus thibetanus and U. malayanus is documented via morphological and genetic comparisons.

Pseudonovibos spiralis: epitaph

Timm et al. (2001) argue that Pseudonovibos spiralis actually exists as a new bovine species, and identify as such two frontlets in the Kansas Natural History Museum, U.S.A. This is not the first time these specimens have been the subject of dubious taxonomic identification; they were previously misidentified by Hoffman (1986) as female kouprey Bos sauveli. A further irony is that the original unmasking (Dioli, 1995) was accomplished by an author of the current defense.

A new subspecies of sea snake, Hydrophis platurus xanthos, from Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica

Abstract We describe a distinctive new subspecies of sea snake from the occasionally anoxic inner-basin waters of Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica, based on combined data garnered between 2010 and 2017 for 154 specimens, 123 free-ranging and 31 museum-held. The yellow sea snake, Hydrophis platurus xanthos Bessesen & Galbreath, subsp. n., is diagnosed by a notably smaller body size and nearly uniform yellow coloration, which contrasts with the black and yellow striae and tail spots or bands typical of the species. Within the modest geographic range (circa 320 km2), nearly all specimens possess both diagnostic character states. Bathymetrics appear to restrict genetic flow between this allopatric population and conspecifics in the broader Eastern Pacific. In perspicuous contrast to typical H. platurus, H. p. xanthos shows no association with drift lines, and feeds at night in turbulent waters, assuming a sinusoidal ambush posture never previously reported for the species. This evolutionarily significant unit (ESU) warrants taxonomic recognition and active protection.

A universal primer set to amplify the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene in bears

Abstract Barcoding DNA is an accepted tool in taxonomic identification. We report the design of a universal primer pair for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI) developed using COI gene sequences of all 8 extant bear species (family Ursidae) available on GenBank. This primer pair successfully amplified approximately 700 base pairs of the COI gene of Asiatic black (Ursus thibetanus; n  =  12) and Himalayan brown (U. arctos; n  =  6) bears. We sequenced the PCR product and compared the sequences with those of the other 6 species to generate degrees of homology (83–92%) and genetic distances. The primer pair has yet to be tested in the other 6 species. We developed a preliminary phylogenetic tree for the 8 species based on these data.