biostudies-literatureHyun JYResearch Institute for Veterinary Science, Seoul National UniversitySNU Brain Fusion Program of the Seoul National Universitye8900https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7227655biostudies-literatureUnknown8The leopard, <i>Panthera pardus</i>, is a threatened species in its range throughout the world. Although, historically, the Korean Peninsula had a high population density of leopards, they were extirpated from South Korea by 1970, leaving almost no genetic specimens. Traditionally, Korean leopards are classified as <i>Panthera pardus orientalis</i>; however, their classification is based only on locality and morphology. Therefore, there is a need for genetic studies to identify the phylogenetic status of Korean leopards at the subspecies level. Presently, no extant wild specimen is available from South Korea; therefore, we extracted genetic material from the old skin of a leopard captured in Jirisan, South Korea in the 1930s and conducted the first phylogenetic study of the South Korean lePeerJPhylogenetic study of extirpated Korean leopard using mitochondrial DNA from an old skin specimen in South Korea.PMC72276552014/550-20140052Cho JHLee HHyun JYPandey PMin MSKim KSfalsePhylogenetic study of extirpated Korean leopard using mitochondrial DNA from an old skin specimen in South Korea.The leopard, <i>Panthera pardus</i>, is a threatened species in its range throughout the world. Although, historically, the Korean Peninsula had a high population density of leopards, they were extirpated from South Korea by 1970, leaving almost no genetic specimens. Traditionally, Korean leopards are classified as <i>Panthera pardus orientalis</i>; however, their classification is based only on locality and morphology. Therefore, there is a need for genetic studies to identify the phylogenetic status of Korean leopards at the subspecies level. Presently, no extant wild specimen is available from South Korea; therefore, we extracted genetic material from the old skin of a leopard captured in Jirisan, South Korea in the 1930s and conducted the first phylogenetic study of the South Korean le2020-01-01T00:00:00Z20202026-04-08T01:46:18.437Z2020-05-24T07:11:17ZS-EPMC72276553243552910.7717/peerj.8900