Genetic characterization of captive Cuban crocodiles (Crocodylus rhombifer) and evidence of hybridization with the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus).
There is a surprising lack of genetic data for the Cuban crocodile (Crocodylus rhombifer), especially given its status as a critically endangered species. Samples from captive individuals were used to genetically characterize this species in comparison with other New World crocodilians. Partial mitochondrial sequence data were generated from cyt-b (843 bp) and the tRNA(Pro)- tRNA(Phe)-D-loop region (442 bp). Phylogenetic analyses were performed by generating maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian-based topologies. In addition, in an effort to identify species-specific alleles, ten polymorphic microsatellite loci were genotyped. Distance and model-based clustering analyses were performed on microsatellite data, in addition to a model-based assignment of hybrid types. Both mitochondrial and nuclear markers identified two distinct C. rhombifer genetic sub-clades (alpha and beta); and microsatellite analyses revealed that most admixed individuals were F(2) hybrids between C. rhombifer-alpha and the American crocodile (C. acutus). All individuals in the C. rhombifer-beta group were morphologically identified as C. acutus and formed a distinct genetic assemblage. J. Exp. Zool. 309A:649-660, 2008. (c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Weaver
Jeremy P
JP
Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA. jeremy.weaver@ttu.edu
Rodriguez
David
D
Venegas-Anaya
Miryam
M
Cedeño-Vázquez
José Rogelio
JR
Forstner
Michael R J
MR
Densmore
Llewellyn D
LD
D000489:Alligators and Crocodiles / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D003462:Cuba; D045303:Cytochromes b / Q000235:genetics; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny
D045303:Cytochromes b