Molecular Genetic Identification of a Mexican Onza Speciment as a Puma (Puma concolor)

Abstract

Tissue samples from an alleged Mexican Onza, shot in the western Sierra Madre in 1986, were subjected to several biochemical assays in an attempt to determine the specimen\u27s relationship to felid species of North America. Protein analyses included isoenzyme electrophoresis and albumin isoelectric focusing. Mitochondrial DNA was assayed for restriction fragment lengths with 28 restriction enzymes, and the ND5 gene was sequences. The resulting protein and mitochondrial DNA characteristics of the Onza were indistinguishable from those of North American pumas