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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:
5 - 10m tall, but
occasionally up to 20m tall
and 22m wide.
Distribution:
Ficus craterostoma has two African populations, a western lowland and an eastern Afromontane form, each pollinated by different fig wasps, suggesting possible divergence. In eastern South Africa, it occurs in fragmented forests from the Great Kei River to the Soutpansberg.
PromethION Sequencing Report:
Output:
62.29 Gigabases
Approximate N50:
13.73 kilobases
Assembly N50:
261.17 kilobases
Contig number:
6 021
Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:
Assembler used:
Flye
Genome Length:
0.42 Gigabases
BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):
98.4% [S: 90.1%, D: 8.2%]
BUSCO database:
viridiplantae
Ficus craterostoma
Strangler fig

Importance:
Ficus craterostoma occurs in Afromontane forests and along the South African coast, where it serves as an important year round food source for frugivores. Although gene flow occurs between most forest populations, some forests in northern KwaZulu-Natal are genetically isolated despite the absence of physical barriers. The assembled genome will provide a valuable resource for investigating the causes of this isolation and informing conservation strategies for the species.
Date Published:
2026-06-05
Photo credit:
© T. van der Merwe
Flora
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