Evolutionary distinctiveness of the extinct Yunnan box turtle (Cuora yunnanensis) revealed by DNA from an old museum specimen

摘要: Cuora yunnanensis is an extinct turtle known from 12 specimens collected Yunnan, China, before 1908. We used ancient DNA methods to sequence 1723 base pairs of mitochondrial a museum specimen C. yunnanensis. Unlike some rare 'species' recently described the pet trade, represents lineage that distinct other turtles. Besides yunnanensis, two valid species (C. mccordi, zhoui) are unknown in wild but supposedly Yunnan. Intensive field surveys for surviving populations these critically endangered urgently needed.