Genetic barcoding facilitates captive and wild management of three cryptic African crocodile species complexes

摘要: Management of threatened species with conserved morphology is hindered by misidentification and potential hybridization in captivity. African crocodiles the genera Osteolaemus, Crocodylus Mecistops were previously considered monotypic, but have recently been identified as consisting three, two cryptic species, respectively. Mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) new published sequences from 310 wild-caught specimens compared 71 US zoological to identify (barcode) species. We also sequenced either nuclear lactate dehydrogenase A or an anonymous microsatellite flanking sequence both wild captive first-generation intra-generic populations. The Osteolaemus COI barcoding gap was 7‐9% divergence. In contrast, had a 4.7% gap. These results, addition (4.9%), support use tool for diagnosing crocodile Captive individuals 14 collections represented five seven putative taxa. Nuclear heterozygosity at fixed polymorphisms differentiating within suggested that 23% samples admixed O. tetraspis × sp. nov. cf. ‐ West Africa, while no ex situ hybrids found Mecistops. Our results underscore need formally recognize divergent taxa, especially light regional threats, proper breeding management.