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Taxonomy does not deserve its reputation as an arcane science. As the following examples from ungulate taxonomy show, classification has important implications for conservation legislation.

Species identification is important in many big game forensic science cases but cannot always be accomplished because of the lack of adequate techniques. The authors have developed deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) probes for elk, deer, and antelope by isolating highly repeated satellite sequences. These DNA probes distinguish among deer, elk, and antelope, although not between different species of deer. Because of the high number of sequence copies per genome, these probes are extremely sensitive, requiring less than 10 ng of total genomic DNA. The developmental protocol for these probes is relatively simple and is applicable to many other species.

Results from species identification of almost 6,000 tsetse fly blood-meals are reported. Regarding Glossina palpalis and G. pallidipes, it was shown that the preference of tsetse flies for certain host species differed according to the sampling area. Consequently, results from blood-meal identification are to be interpreted with this point in view.

The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzyme pattern of prostate and of testis of 27 wild animals showed that in several species more than 5 isoenzymes are detected, with electrophoretic mobilities different to those found in humans. The LDH-X band, found in testis from mature humans is also observed in the testis of wild animals. However, in several species more than one LDH-X is found. The results obtained demonstrate their usefulness in phylogeny. The prostate gland and testis of the chimpanzee show the greatest resemblance to man. Histological examination of the prostate glands seems to correlate with the phylogenetical classification of the mammals studied.