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New microsatellite markers allow high-resolution taxon delimitation in critically endangered Asian box turtles, genus Cuora
- We isolated and characterized 16 new di- and tetranudeotide microsatellite markers for the critically endangered Asian box turtle genus Cuora, focusing on the "Cuora trifasciata" species complex. The new markers were then used to analyse genetic variability and divergence amongst five described species within this complex, namely C. aurocapitata (n = 18), C. cyclornata (n = 31), C. pani (n = 6), C. trifasciata (n = 58), and C. zhoui (n = 7). Our results support the view that all five species represent valid taxa. Within two species (C. trifasciata and C. cyclornata), two distinct morphotypes were corroborated by microsatellite divergence. For three individuals, morphologically identified as being of hybrid origin, the hybrid status was confirmed by our genetic analysis. Our results confirm the controversial species (Cuora aurocapitata, C. cyclornata) and subspecies/morphotypes (C. cyclornata meieri, C. trifasciata cf. trifasciata) to be genetically distinct, which has critical implications for conservation strategies.
Author details: | Ralph TiedemannORCiDGND, Anja R. R. Schneider, Katja Havenstein, Torsten Blanck, Elmar Meier, Martina Raffel, Henk Zwartepoorte, Martin PlathORCiD |
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ISSN: | 0036-3375 |
Title of parent work (English): | Salamandra : German journal of herpetology |
Publisher: | Deutsche Gesellschaft für Herpetologie und Terrarienkunde |
Place of publishing: | Darmstadt |
Publication type: | Article |
Language: | English |
Year of first publication: | 2014 |
Publication year: | 2014 |
Release date: | 2017/03/27 |
Tag: | Cuora; Testudines; box turtles; captive breeding; conservation units; microsatellites |
Volume: | 50 |
Issue: | 3 |
Number of pages: | 8 |
First page: | 139 |
Last Page: | 146 |
Funding institution: | Turtle Conservation Fund (TCF); Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Herpetologie und Terrarienkunde (DGHT); Work Group "Chelonians" of the DGHT; Zoologische Gesellschaft far Arten- und Populationsschutz (ZGAP); British Chelonia Group (BCG) |
Organizational units: | Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Institut für Geowissenschaften |
Peer review: | Referiert |
Institution name at the time of the publication: | Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Institut für Erd- und Umweltwissenschaften |