Some very unusually-colored moose (elk, Alces alces) were photographed in Finland this past Saturday:
These animals are not albinos. It’s very easy to see the spots all over their bodies.
They almost resemble the coloration that comes from the leopard complex in horses, which is most associated with the Appaloosa. These moose actually resemble what are called “white-born” or “few spot,” which are homozygous (Lp/Lp) horses.
I don’t know how likely it would be to find that moose have the same mutation as horses, and it would be very unusual for two moose to produce offspring that would be homozgyous for this unusual color.
However, in horses, this color predates domestication. Genetic tests of horses that lived during the Pleistocene and the Copper Age revealed that some of the horses had the allele associated with leopard spotting.
It is possible, then, for these moose to have something similar going on.
I don’t know if it is the same mutation, but it is unlikely.
However, it is very similar.
I think these moose are two of this year’s calves, so they likely have the same mother.
My guess is there aren’t too many wolves running around this part of Finland. Otherwise, they would have been eaten by now.
I wonder how hard it would be to get a DNA sample off of them.
My guess is that it wouldn’t be very difficult find them and then scout around for moose scat or bits of hair.
They certainly have pique my curiosity.
Why are these moose this color?
prehistoric cave paintings in France seem to include some spotted horses.
Yep. And the genetic study of horse remains from the Pleistocene and the Copper Age revealed that horses had the leopard spotting coloration even back then.
I would assume that Appaloosa markings would make them more vulnerable to predation, thus naturally limiting the spread of that genetic complex. But people, loving color variation in their domestic animals, would have selected for it. Interbreeding between domestic and wild stocks would have guaranteed the retention of the Appaloosa markers in the wild/feral populations.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/12/1207_051207_dog_genome.html
Comparison of genome mapping of species one might find informative.
http://www.wolfsongnews.org/news/Alaska_current_events_858.htm
It seems the most difficult concept to grasp that the genes that produce pigmentation phenotype in animals is being revealed to be exactly the same in genes. They believe it or not have actually mapped the coat color of Moose. Fascinating is it not?
What I find amazing is that we share most of our genes with mice (only 300 out of 30,000 genes are unique) yet the genetic expression in the two species is vastly different. This is the reason I once expressed the hope that someday we could recreate extinct species such as the passenger pigeon. If we come to thoroughly understand how the synthesis of RNA, proteins, enzymes and environmental factors effect expression of these genes, all bets are off.
see:
http://www.genome.gov/10001345
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn2352-just-25-of-dna-turns-mice-into-men.html and
http://articles.cnn.com/2002-12-04/tech/coolsc.coolsc.mousegenome_1_human-genome-new-human-genes-genes-that-cause-disease?_s=PM:TECH
It would seem as far as I know in personal studies the number of genes between species of dogs for example are a few. We are explained through studies that a number of inbred species have lost a large percentage of genes. Pigmentation genes among species even humans in complex expression based on protein and enzmes, etc mutations of biollogicial changes seems to quite parallel. It seems Genetic mapping reveals of chickens for instance reveals similiarity in sex genes when first studied. However, the mapping of our canine compared to humans in research has in comparison studies opens the door to human disease. Our dogs have provided in genetic studies new insight to human disease, new treatments and therapy.
http://www.grochbiology.org/genetics%20problems.htm
This link might be of interest as well.
Dalmoosians!?
A few more seem to have been ‘spotted’ in Canada in 2006 as well. Sorry, couldn’t resist the pun!
Also, a moose with almost piebald markings was spotted earlier this year in Alberta.
I’ve seen photos of piebald moose, and when I was a kid, my grandpa shot a piebald white-tail buck.
He spray-painted its nose fluorescent orange and hung it in a tree in the backyard. He wanted my younger cousins to think he’d shot Rudolf!
White-tailed, mule, and black-tailed deer are actually quite closely related to Moose. They are more closely related to each other than either is to the wapiti/elk/red deer-type of deer.
I wonder if there is any connectiom between the mutations that cause piebald white-tails and piebald moose.
http://www.appaloosaproject.info/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=34
Since horses were mention in the focus of this writing also include the following for consideration
http://draftswithdots.blogspot.com/2011/05/congenital-stationary-night-blindness.html
http://www.horseprotection.org/id125.html
I can see how that coloration would be an advantage in the winter—blend right into a snowy, rocky field.
Good Ice Age coloration. They’d blend in against dirty snow, or thin snow over rocks. Late winter would be when wolf predation was most severe.
I would think that argument might apply more to Paleocene human hunters, than to highly scent-oriented predators like wolves and bears.
Perhaps color variation is far more common in wild animals than we think. “strawberry red” leopards, spotted lions, white lions & tigers, white deer and now spotted and piebald elk (moose). We’ve always assumed that such animals are quickly eliminated from the gene pool — but that equally assumes that only “one” color works “best”. As pointed out by others, in a snow field (or against whitish beech trees or in a whitish sand environment), this color might be a plus over the standard flavor.
Good timing! Just a couple days ago, one of my coworkers brought in some pictures he took of pinto-spotted deer in suburban Ohio – I’ve seen similar ones near where my parents live, in Maryland. In areas with no wolves, the striking pattern is probably an advantage – makes it easier for drivers to see them. Cars are the main “predator” of the urban deer.
The “dalmatian” moose was spotted in the area where lives 1-2 wolf families and the packs are very small, with 2-5 members. My bet is these mooses end up to be killed by hunters and cars, statistically it’s really a much more common destiny to the Fenno-Scandian moose. Wolves can’t kill in thousands per year, because they are so rare, humans do.
Another spotty young male moose, two years ago, about in the same area (spotted mooses seem to come up year by year in the same areas)
I know there are hunting restrictions protecting certain species in some states in the U.S. Sucks read the restrictions of one moose even in Alaska. I believe regardless of the country we all recognize the different elements of values that lies behind some individuals that hunt. I have never met a hunter who would shoot a white. I know Cherooke Indians consider any white wolf or buffalo a scared spirit so to speak. Likewise, hunters that I know would never kill a large buck that was gray with age. This is due his survival ability hopes to continue in offspring. Besides the meat is too tough.
http://www.actionbioscience.org/biodiversity/rooney.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moose