Molecular phylogenetics of some endangered turtles reveals new close genetic relationships

Abstract

The study is devoted to detection of the phylogenetic relationships between nine specimens of turtles. Five species of them are sea turtles and included in family Chelonidae (Caretta caretta, Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata, Lepidochelys olivacea) and family Dermochelyidae (Dermochelys coriacea). Another two species are terrestrial and placed in family Testudinidae (Testudo kleinmanni and Testudo graeca). The other turtle is fresh water turtle and grouped in family Trioychidae (Trionyx triunguis). The last turtle is asemiaquatic turtle and belonging to the family Emydidae (Trachemys scripta elegans). A total of 18 blood samples were collected from turtles in different localities of Egypt. Analyses of partial mitochondrial and nuclear sequences have revealed phylogenetic inconsistencies within family Cheloniidae and regarding the placement of Dermochelys coriacea. A 645 bp, 562 bp, 555 bp and 395 bp control region fragment of COI, 16S, RAG-1 and 12S was analyzed. The high percentage similarity was confirmed in GenBankfor COI, RAG-1, 16S and 12S sequences with 99%-100%. Maximum Likelihood was used to construct a phylogenetic tree. The results showed also the position of Dermochelyidae as sister to the rest of the studied marine turtles. This study succeeded in amplification by using the DNA target of the control region and it will be useful for the conservation management of marine turtles.