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Group:

Insect

Estimated genome size:

Greater than 18 mm

Size:

Greater than 18 mm

Distribution:

Anthia decemguttata inhabits sandy areas of the Karoo and fynbos regions in South Africa and Namibia. In South Africa, it occurs in the Northern Cape, Western Cape and Eastern Cape.

PromethION Sequencing Report:

Output:

71.66 Gigabases

Approximate N50:

3.56 kilobases

Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:

Genome Length:

0.51 Gigabases

BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):

100.0% [S: 98.8%, D: 1.2%]

Importance:

Anthia decemguttata belongs to the family Carabidae, a group of beetles that includes important predators. Carabids are abundant in agricultural fields worldwide and may help control agricultural pests naturally.

Sample Contributor contact details:

Charlene Janion-Scheepers
University of Cape Town

Group:

Eudicot

Estimated genome size:

Size:

2 – 25 meters in height

Distribution:

The jackalberry tree (Diospyros mespiliformis) is widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, occurring from West Africa to Southern Africa. In Southern Africa, it is found in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, Namibia, Malawi, Botswana and South Africa, particularly in the Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.

PromethION Sequencing Report:

Output:

21.99 Gigabases

Approximate N50:

18.41 kilobases

Assembly N50:

368.16 kilobases

Contig number:

6 122

Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:

Assembler used:

Hifiasm

Genome Length:

1.36 Gigabases

BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):

94.5% [S: 82%, D: 12.5%]

BUSCO database:

eukaryota

Diospyros mespiliformis

Jackalberry

Species Card Details

Importance:

The jackalberry tree (Diospyros mespiliformis) is an ecologically and culturally important South African species, particularly in the north-eastern provinces. It provides food and habitat for wildlife, supports riverbank stabilisation and soil conservation, and is traditionally used to treat ailments such as stomach pain, diarrhea and respiratory infections. As no genomic resources currently exist for this species, genome sequencing will provide valuable data for conservation, ecological research and future applications.

Sample Contributor contact details:

Eshchar Mizrachi
University of Pretoria

Date Published:

2026-07-20

Photo credit:

© Y. Mgwatyu

Flora

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