Researchers Uncover Genetic Structure of Elusive Asian Unicorn Species, Remain Elusive for Further Sightings
In the obscure wilderness of the Annamite Mountains, nestled along the border between Vietnam and Laos, resides one of the globe's most elusive creatures. Known by locals as the saola, it is a mammal so scarce that even its existence is debatable, with no confirmed scientific observation in the wild.
Scientists have christened the creature as Pseudoryx nghetinhensis, earning it the nickname "Asian Unicorn" due to its myth-like rarity. Despite never setting eyes on the animal, an international team of researchers has taken a significant step towards its discovery and potentially saving it: genetic sequencing of its genome.
"The existence of live saolas cannot be proved or disproven at this time," said Nguyen Quoc Dung, a prominent Vietnamese forest researcher who helped lead the study. "However, there are signs that keep us hopeful."
First described in 1993, the "Asian Unicorn" is an evolutionary puzzle. Unlike its name suggests, it does not possess a horn at its forehead but rather two long, parallel horns and a blend of goat- and cow-like characteristics that have puzzled taxonomists.
In a study published in the journal Cell, researchers compared the genomes of 26 individual saolas. Using samples collected from hunters' households, mainly bones and tissue fragments, they've peered deeper into the animal's genetic past than ever before.
A Lineage Apart
Whole-genome sequencing has firmly established the saola as a sister lineage to cattle and buffalo, a common ancestor dating back approximately 14 million years. This places the saola among the most distinct large mammal evolutionary histories. An additional discovery revealed the presence of two distinct saola populations.
"We were taken aback to find that the saola is split into two populations with considerable genetic differences," said Genís Garcia Erill, lead author of the study. According to their analysis, these two groups separated between 5,000 and 20,000 years ago.
Each population lost distinct pieces of genetic variation, resulting in complementary characteristics. "So, if you combine them, they could fill in gaps missing in the other," Garcia Erill said.
A Potential Conservation Breakthrough
This surprising revelation offers a glimmer of hope for conservation. When animals come close to extinction, they undergo a "genetic bottleneck" with limited genetic diversity in the population. This finding suggests a source of variation, potentially paving the way for a future captive breeding program designed to reunite the fragmented gene pool, improving the species' long-term survival prospects.
"Our models suggest the species would have a decent chance of long-term survival," said Rasmus Heller, a geneticist at the University of Copenhagen and senior author of the study. However, success relies on locating and capturing a few individuals from both lineages.
The Uphill Search for the Mythical Creature
Finding the "Asian Unicorn" has proven challenging. The last confirmed photograph of one in the wild was taken in 2013, and estimates suggest fewer than 100 may remain, with the possibility of extinction. "I'm not overly optimistic, I have to admit, but I truly hope the saola is still out there," Heller said.
Armed with the new genomic data, conservationists may be better equipped to locate the creature again. Previous efforts to track the saola utilized indirect methods, such as environmental DNA in water or blood traces from leeches, but their effectiveness relied on having an accurate reference genome.
"Now that we have the complete saola genome, we have a more extensive toolkit for detecting trace evidence of its presence with great precision," said Minh Duc Le, a co-author from Vietnam National University.
If scientists fail to find any living individuals, the saola genome could theoretically provide the foundation for a de-extinction project, a controversial but increasingly popular idea.
"Our findings could, in theory, be used if we were to ever bring the saola back through genetic de-extinction technologies," said Heller. "Our new insights into saola genetic variation could play a significant role in creating a viable population."
- The saola, also known as Pseudoryx nghetinhensis, is a rare mammal found in the Annamite Mountains.
- In a study published in the journal Cell, an international team of researchers sequenced the saola's genome, aiming to aid in its discovery and conservation.
- Genetic sequencing has revealed that the saola is a sister lineage to cattle and buffalo, with a common ancestor dating back approximately 14 million years.
- The study also found the presence of two distinct saola populations that separated between 5,000 and 20,000 years ago.
- This discovery may offer a conservation breakthrough as it suggests a source of genetic variation, potentially paving the way for a future captive breeding program.
- Armed with the new genomic data, conservationists may be better equipped to locate the saola, helping to improve its long-term survival prospects.
- If the saola becomes extinct, the genome could theoretically provide the foundation for a de-extinction project, using cutting-edge technology to potentially bring the creature back.
