Molecular phylogeny for marine turtles based on sequences of the ND4-leucine tRNA and control regions of mitochondrial DNA.

摘要: Marine turtles are divided into two families, the Dermochelyidae and Cheloniidae. The majority of species currently placed within tribes Cheloniidae, Chelonini Carettini, but debate continues over generic tribal affinities as well boundaries. We used nucleotide sequences (907 bp) from ND4-LEU tRNA region control (526 mitochondrial DNA to resolve areas uncertainty in marine turtle (Chelonioidae) systematics. fragment was more conserved than region, with sequence divergences ranging 0.026 0.148 0.067 0.267, respectively. Parsimony analysis based only on data suggests that hawksbill, Eretmochelys imbricata, lies tribe Carettni is closely related genus Caretta, could not position flatback, Natator depressus. A similar suggested N. depressus affiliated Chelonini, failed E. imbricata loggerhead, Caretta caretta. In contrast these results, combination both sets published cytochrome b produced a phylogeny 1924 bp which resolves relative Lepidochelys joins sister Carettini. Based molecular data, contains Chelonia species, while Carettini remaining divergence between Pacific Atlantic populations leatherback, Dermochelys coriacea, relatively low (0.0081) when compared green turtle, mydas (0.071-0.074). Ch. were found be paraphyletic respect black agassizi, suggesting current taxonomic designations questionable. This shows utility combining for different regions mtDNA by themselves insufficient obtain robust phylogenies.