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Phylum:

Chordata

Estimated genome size:

3 – 4 meters

Organism size:

3 – 4 meters

Distribution:

Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

PromethION Sequencing Report:

Output:

110.47 Gigabases

Approximate N50:

8.38 kilobases

Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:

Genome Length:

3.16 Gigabases

BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):

98.8% [S: 82.7%, D: 15.3%]

Importance:

African savanna elephants are the largest land animals and crucial ecosystem engineers. Listed as endangered by the IUCN Red list, they are vital for South African tourism. This project aims to sequence the genome of a wild bull elephant from a native KZN population, providing valuable genetic data beyond existing zoo based or outdated sequences.

Sample Contributor contact details

Dr Carel J. Oosthuizen
University of Pretoria

Phylum:

Chordata

Estimated genome size:

3 040 million DNA base pairs (3.04 Gigabases)

Organism size:

1.8 – 2.3 meter (length)

Distribution:

The Cape fur seal is found along the southern and southwestern coasts of Africa, ranging from Algoa Bay in the Indian Ocean (Eastern Cape, South Africa) through Namibia, up to Baia dos Tigres in southern Angola, along the Atlantic Ocean.

PromethION Sequencing Report:

Output:

80.12 Gigabases

Approximate N50:

5.99 thousand DNA bases (kilobases)

Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:

Genome Length:

2.38 Gigabases

BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):

98.0% [S: 82.7%, D: 15.3%]

Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus

Cape Fur Seal

Species Card Details

Importance:

The Cape fur seal is a marine apex predator that plays a critical role in maintaining a healthy marine ecosystem. It feeds on fish such as sardines and pilchards and is therefore competition with local, economically important fisheries. In Namibia, annual sealing yields meat, blubber and fur, which are then sold commercially, further contributing to the species' economic importance.

Sample Contributor contact details

Monica Mwale
South African National Biodiversity Institute

Date Published

2025-02-17

DOI

Photo credit:

© N. de Bruyn

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