Galápagos tortoises are a symbolic animal in terms of conservation biology as well as evolutionary biology, and both in situ and ex situ conservation programs are currently underway. For endangered species, captive individuals can perform a certain role as genetic reservoirs for ongoing and future breeding programs We examined the genetic identities of two giant tortoises in Ueno Zoo, Japan. The mitochondrial genotype of the older tortoise, Taro, as appeared to be that of Chelonoidis porteri from Santa Cruz island. The mitochondrial genotype of the younger tortoise, Kamekichi, was identified as either C. becki from the northern area of Isabela island, or C. darwini from Santiago island. These genetic analyses serve as reference data for the future conservation management of captive Galápagos tortoises.
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1 February 2019
Genetic Origin of the Two Galápagos Tortoises in the Ueno Zoo, Japan Based on Mitochondrial DNA Sequences
Emiko Iwata,
Kaoru Tohmine,
Hideyuki Jumonji,
Tetsuya Yoshida,
Yusuke Saito,
Tamaki Okuno,
Yoshiaki Morino,
Hiroshi Wada
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Current Herpetology
Vol. 38 • No. 1
February 2019
Vol. 38 • No. 1
February 2019
captive specimen
conservation
Galápagos tortoise
mitochondrial DNA
Ueno Zoo