Savanna vs. forest elephant
Definition
African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) and African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) are now recognised as separate species. They have distinct mitochondrial lineages, so DNA can distinguish their ivory even when physical appearance is similar.
Related terms
- Bomb-curve radiocarbon dating
- A method that exploits the spike in atmospheric carbon-14 caused by nuclear weapons tests in the 1950s-60s. The outermost growth layer of...
- CITES Appendix I
- The strictest listing under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, prohibiting commercial international trade in specimens of listed species. African...
- ETIS
- Elephant Trade Information System, operated under CITES. A global database of ivory seizure records used to detect trade routes, source countries, and...
- Schreger angle
- The acute angle formed at the intersection of two sets of dentinal tubule lines visible in the cross-section of a tusk. Values...
- Wasser map
- A population-level reference map of elephant DNA variation across the African continent, developed by Samuel Wasser's lab at the University of Washington,...
Explained in
- Elephant Ivory ForensicsAfrican bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) and African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) are now recognised as separate species. They have distinct mitochon...