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Species Card Details

Agama aculeata

Ground Agama

Species Card Photograph

Group:

Reptile

Size:

18-25 cm (total body length)

Distribution:

Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique, southern Angola, Zambia, Eswatini

PromethION Sequencing Report:

Output:

71.28 Gigabases

Approximate N50:

3.17 kilobases

Assembly N50:

1114.67 kilobases

Contig number:

10 320

Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:

Assembler used:

Flye

Genome Length:

1.5 Gigabases

BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):

99.6% [S: 98.4%, D: 1.2%]

BUSCO database:

eukaryota

Importance:

Agama aculeata is a widespread, common ground agama in southern Africa that helps control insects and thrives in natural and disturbed habitats. Sequencing its genome would resolve taxonomic uncertainty within the species complex, uncover genetics of coloration, thermal tolerance and urban adaptation, improve agama phylogeny, and aid conservation and monitoring.

Sample Contributor contact details:

Zhongning Zhao
University of the Free State

Date Published:

2026-05-20

Photo credit:

© L. Kemp

Fauna

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