Wildlife Forensics: Ivory, Horn, and Scale Identification
Published:
Questions
30
Duration
30 min
Faculty-reviewed
0
Updated
18 Jun 2026
About this mock
This mock test covers the core forensic identification techniques applied to the most heavily trafficked wildlife commodities: elephant ivory, rhinoceros horn, big cat and bear products, pangolin scales, and sea turtle shell. Candidates will encounter questions on Schreger angle measurement, radiocarbon bomb-curve dating, DNA profiling methods including STR and mitochondrial sequencing, scanning electron microscopy of keratin microstructures, CITES Appendix classifications, and landmark Indian wildlife legislation including the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
This test is suitable for BSc and MSc students in forensic science and wildlife biology, postgraduate aspirants preparing for NFSU MSc entrance examinations, and field officers working with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) or TRAFFIC India. It also serves practitioners seeking a structured review of the Saferstein and Sharma B.R. frameworks applied to the wildlife trafficking context.
Topics covered:
- Elephant ivory: Schreger angles, African vs Asian vs mammoth identification
- Radiocarbon bomb-curve dating of ivory post-1955
- Rhinoceros horn microstructure and RhODIS STR database
- Big cat bone DNA analysis and bear bile HPLC fingerprinting
- Pangolin scale keratin architecture and species-level PCR
- Sea turtle tortoiseshell identification and Appendix I protections
- Wildlife Protection Act 1972 schedules and CITES Appendix I, II listings
- Chain-of-custody and evidence preservation for wildlife exhibits
A thorough grasp of these topics is essential for wildlife forensic casework, court testimony, and international conservation compliance. Allow 30 minutes.
Sources & references
Questions in this mock are written and verified against the following sources. Citations are recorded per question and shown in the explanation after submission.
- cited in 7 questions
Saferstein, Richard — Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science, 12th Edition
Chapter 17: Wildlife Forensics — Microscopy of Keratinous Materials
- cited in 5 questions
Sharma, B.R. — Forensic Science in Criminal Investigation and Trials, 4th Edition
Chapter: Wildlife Forensics — Sea Turtle Shell Anatomy and Product Identification
- cited in 5 questions
- cited in 3 questions
CITES Appendices — Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
Appendix I: Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae family listings
Open source - cited in 1 question
Wasser, Samuel K. et al. — Combating the Illegal Trade in African Elephant Ivory with DNA Forensics, Conservation Biology
Methods: Mitochondrial D-loop genotyping and geographic assignment
- cited in 1 question
CITES Appendices — Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
Appendix I: African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)
Open source - cited in 1 question
Gaubert, Philippe et al. — Pangolin Forensic Genetics, ZooKeys
Methods: Species-specific PCR and Cytochrome b Sequencing
- cited in 1 question
Wildlife Crime Control Bureau — WCCB Mandate and Functions, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
About WCCB: Establishment, Structure, and Functions
Open source - cited in 1 question
Emslie, R.H. et al. — RhODIS: The Rhinoceros DNA Index System, Wildlife Genetics International
Section: Database Structure and STR Profiling Protocol
- cited in 1 question
Wildlife Crime Control Bureau — Annual Report, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Section: Sea Turtle Enforcement Operations, Odisha Coast
Open source - cited in 1 question
TRAFFIC — Pangolin Specialist Group Annual Report, IUCN SSC
Section: Global Trafficking Data and Species-Level Seizure Analysis
- cited in 1 question
Uno de Waal et al. — Radiocarbon dating of elephant ivory, South African Journal of Science
Section: Bomb-Pulse Method and 1955 Threshold
- cited in 1 question
CITES — Ivory Identification Guide, USFWS Law Enforcement Technical Note
Section 3: Schreger Angle Measurement Ranges by Species
- cited in 1 question
IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group — Pangolin Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan
Chapter 1: Taxonomy and Distribution of the Eight Pangolin Species
How our mocks are built
Questions are written and edited by the ForensicSpot team and cited from peer-reviewed forensic textbooks, official syllabi and primary case law. Each one is verified before publishing. Detailed explanations show after you submit, so the test stays a real test. See a mistake? Tell us.
Common questions
What does the Wildlife Forensics: Ivory, Horn, and Scale Identification mock cover?+
This mock test covers the core forensic identification techniques applied to the most heavily trafficked wildlife commodities: elephant ivory, rhinoceros horn, big cat and bear products, pangolin scales, and sea turtle shell. Candidates will encounter questions on Schreger angle measurement, radiocarbon bomb-curve dating, DNA profiling methods including STR and mitochondrial sequencing, scanning electron microscopy of keratin microstructures, CITES Appendix classifications, and landmark Indian w
How many questions and how long is the test?+
30 multiple-choice questions, 30 minutes total. Difficulty: easy. Tier: Free.
Who is this mock for?+
Forensic science students and aspirants who want timed, exam-style practice with explanations and verified source citations on Wildlife Forensics. Useful for postgraduate entrance preparation and for BSc / MSc forensic students testing their recall under time.
Are the questions reviewed?+
Each question carries a verified source citation. Faculty review for individual questions is in progress.
Do I need an account to take this mock?+
Yes, a free ForensicSpot account is required to start a timed attempt — this lets you save progress, see per-question explanations after submission, and track your topic-level performance over time.