The world’s economically most important chelonians represent a diverse species complex (Testudines: Trionychidae: Pelodiscus)

摘要: Pelodiscus is one of the most widely distributed genera softshell turtles, ranging from south-eastern Siberia and Korea over central southern China to Vietnam. Economically, are important chelonians world have been bred traded in high numbers for centuries, resulting many populations established outside their native range. Currently, more than 300 million turtles per year sold alone, bulk this figure comprises farmed Pelodiscus. Due easy availability, also constitutes a model organism physiological embryological investigations. Yet, diversity taxonomy poorly understood comprehensive investigation using molecular tools has never published. Traditionally, all were assigned species P. sinensis (Wiegmann, 1834); recent years up three additional recognized by few authors, while others continued accept only sinensis. In present study, we use trade specimens known-locality samples Siberia, China, Vietnam, analyze 2,419 bp mtDNA 565-bp-long fragment nuclear C-mos gene elucidate genetic diversity, compare our data with sequences available GenBank. Our findings provide evidence existence at least seven distinct lineages suggest interbreeding commercial turtle farms. GenBank axenaria (Zhou, Zhang & Fang, 1991) highly distinct. The validity maackii (Brandt, 1857) northernmost part genus’ range confirmed, whereas it unclear which names should be applied several taxa occurring parts calls caution when such used as organisms, because respective involvement single taxon could lead irreproducible contradictory results. Moreover, reveal need new assessment conservation status While currently subsumed under ‘P. sinensis’ listed ‘vulnerable’ IUCN Red List Threatened Species, some actually endangered or even critically endangered.