Is Testudo werneri a distinct species?

Abstract

Sequence variation of a 1066 bp long mtDNA fragment (cytochrome b gene, adjacent part of tRNA-Thr gene) of four known-locality samples of Testudo kleinmanni (Tripolitania, Libya) and of four samples of T. werneri (Negev, Israel) is compared with additional five sequences of pet trade tortoises allegedly representing T. kleinmanni. Four haplotypes, differing in one to four mutation steps occur. The most common haplotype was shared by all known-locality samples of T. kleinmanni and three T. werneri. Sequence variation within each nominal species and in the pooled sample of T. kleinmanni, T. werneri and pet trade tortoises is the lowest known for any Testudo species. We conclude there is no support for the validity of T. werneri Perälä, 2001. © 2007 Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences.