Should the Identification Guidelines for Siamese Crocodiles Be Revised? Differing Post-Occipital Scute Scale Numbers Show Phenotypic Variation Does Not Result from Hybridization with Saltwater Crocodiles
التفاصيل البيبلوغرافية
العنوان:
Should the Identification Guidelines for Siamese Crocodiles Be Revised? Differing Post-Occipital Scute Scale Numbers Show Phenotypic Variation Does Not Result from Hybridization with Saltwater Crocodiles
Populations of Siamese crocodiles (Crocodylus siamensis) have severely declined because of hunting and habitat fragmentation, necessitating a reintroduction plan involving commercial captive-bred populations. However, hybridization between Siamese and saltwater crocodiles (C. porosus) has occurred in captivity. Siamese crocodiles commonly have post-occipital scutes (P.O.) with 4–6 scales, but 2–6 P.O. scales were found in captives on Thai farms. Here, the genetic diversity and population structure of Siamese crocodiles with large P.O. variations and saltwater crocodiles were analyzed using mitochondrial DNA D-loop and microsatellite genotyping. Possible crocodile hybrids or phenotypic variations were ascertained by comparison with our previous library from the Siam Crocodile Bioresource Project. Siamese crocodiles with