Q1. With reference to Leopardus tilcayo and the tiger cat group, consider the following statements:
- Leopardus tilcayo was distinguished as a separate species using genetic and evolutionary evidence, despite the difficulty of distinguishing tiger cats solely on morphology.
- The discovery demonstrates that genetic analysis can reveal cryptic species that may be overlooked when species identification relies primarily on external morphology.
- The Leopardus genus is restricted to the tropical rainforests of the Amazon Basin.
- The tiger cat lineage represented by L. tilcayo is estimated to have diverged from other tiger cats about 1.4 million years ago.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1, 2 and 4 only
(c) 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 4 only
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is Correct: Genetic analysis identified L. tilcayo as evolutionarily distinct within the tiger cat group.
- Statement 2 is Correct: Cryptic species may appear morphologically similar but can be separated using genetic or evolutionary evidence.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: Leopardus species occur broadly across Central and South America, not exclusively in the Amazon Basin.
- Statement 4 is Correct: The lineage leading to L. tilcayo is estimated to have separated from other tiger cats approximately 1.4 million years ago.
