Cuon alpinus ( Pallas, 1811 )

Jo, Yeong-Seok, Baccus, John T. & Koprowski, John L., 2018, Mammals of Korea: a review of their taxonomy, distribution and conservation status, Zootaxa 4522 (1), pp. 1-216 : 88-89

Cuon alpinus ( Pallas, 1811) —Dhole

Canis alpinus Pallas, 1811 p.34 ; Type locality- Amur, Russia.

Cuon alpinus: Kishida & Mori, 1931 p.379 ; Kuroda, 1938 p.37; Ellerman & Morrison-Scott, 1951 p.233; Won, 1968 p.268; Han, 1994 p.46; Won & Smith, 1999 p.15.

Cuon alpinus alpinus: Won, 1968 p.268 ; Yoon, 1992 p.97.

Range: The original distribution of the dhole ranged throughout the Korean Peninsula ( Jo & Baccus 2015). Presence of dholes around Mt. Baekdu (3 individuals observed in 1988 at Chail-peak Plateau) in extreme northeastern Korea were reported until the 1990s ( Jin & Ouh 1990; Fig. 57 ), but the current status of dholes remains uncertain.

Remarks: The populations of northeastern Asia -including Korea- were classified as C. a. alpinus ( Pallas, 1811) .

Conservation status: The North Korean government designated C. alpinus as an Endangered Species (MAB National Committee of DPR Korea 2002; Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 2007). The South Korean population became exterminated before the 1970s, with no conservation action taking place in South Korea ( Jo & Baccus 2015). All populations of northeastern Asia are considered extinct ( Venkataraman & Johnsingh 2004). CITES lists the species on Appendix II.

Figures

FIGURE 57. Range map of Cuon alpinus in Korea.