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Most New Golden Jackal Samples Around the Adriatic Matched the Pannonian Genetic Cluster

Golden jackal in close side view
Research · Genetics & genomics

New genetic sampling around the Adriatic and neighbouring regions assigned most golden jackals (Canis aureus) to the Pannonian genetic cluster, while only two of 27 newly analysed animals showed clear mixed Dalmatian–Pannonian ancestry. The study, published on 11 March 2026, examined how far genetic influence from the distinct Dalmatian population extends beyond its known core area.

The researchers analysed new samples from western Croatia, north-eastern Italy, south-eastern Austria and northern Greece and compared them with 46 previously analysed reference profiles from the Dalmatian and Pannonian populations. Population assignment was based on 23 microsatellite markers — short repeated DNA regions that are useful for distinguishing genetic structure and gene flow between populations.

Map showing Dalmatian and Pannonian ancestry probabilities in golden jackals around the Adriatic and neighbouring regions
Sampling locations and STRUCTURE assignment probabilities for Dalmatian and Pannonian golden jackal ancestry. Figure 1 from Kovačič et al. (2026), Mammal Research, CC BY 4.0. Source.

Two main genetic clusters were confirmed

Across several analytical methods, the data supported two principal genetic clusters. One corresponded to the Dalmatian population along the Croatian Adriatic coast, while the broader Pannonian cluster included most jackals sampled elsewhere.

Jackals from Austria and Greece, most animals from Croatia’s island of Krk and Plitvice National Park, and most of the Italian samples were assigned to the Pannonian population. None of the 27 new samples was assigned entirely to the Dalmatian cluster.

Only two new animals showed substantial mixed ancestry

One jackal from north-eastern Italy and one from the Croatian island of Dugi Otok showed substantial mixed Dalmatian–Pannonian ancestry. Together with earlier evidence from Slovenia, these individuals indicate that gene flow occurs across the contact zone, but the new data suggest it is limited.

The results extend the documented contact zone from Dalmatia and Dugi Otok toward eastern Italy. At the same time, the strong representation of Pannonian ancestry in the newly sampled areas is consistent with the rapid expansion of this population into northern and western Europe.

The Dalmatian population may have a restricted distribution

The authors conclude that the Dalmatian population may occupy a considerably more restricted area than the widespread and expanding Pannonian population. They also note that the genetic distinctiveness of the Dalmatian group appears to have persisted despite some long-distance dispersal between regions.

However, the researchers explicitly caution that the new sample is small and geographically discontinuous. Important areas of the southern Adriatic and Balkans remain poorly sampled, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania, as well as several Adriatic islands.

Sources and image credit

  1. Kovačič, T., Konec, M., Boljte, B., Florijančić, T., Jan, M., Potočnik, H., Karamanlidis, A. A., Kusak, J., Righetti, D., Schenekar, T., Skrbinšek, T., Šprem, N., & Stronen, A. V. (2026). Investigation of Dalmatian population ancestry in golden jackals in nearby regions. Mammal Research, 71, 34. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13364-026-00853-1Primary peer-reviewed open-access research article published 11 March 2026 under CC BY 4.0. The study analysed 27 new golden jackal samples from Croatia, Italy, Austria and Greece together with 46 Dalmatian and Pannonian reference profiles.

Image: Marie van Dieren — golden jackal (Canis aureus), photographed 7 November 2017; Wikimedia Commons / Flickr; CC0 image with no more precise locality stated on the source page; representative species image, not one of the genetically sampled jackals · CC0 1.0 · Source

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