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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:

A small to medium tree up to 12 m high. It can develop a massive canopy through branches rooting and forming “daughter” trunks.

Distribution:

This tree is found from South Africa and Botswana to the Arabian Peninsula, Socotra Island and Egypt. Outlying populations are present in mountains in the Sahara desert.

PromethION Sequencing Report:

Output:

70.76 Gigabases

Approximate N50:

7.9 kilobases

Assembly N50:

2 031.03 kilobases

Contig number:

1 242

Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:

Assembler used:

Hifiasm

Genome Length:

0.81 Gigabases

BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):

98.6% [S: 20.9%, D: 77.6%]

BUSCO database:

viridiplantae

Ficus salicifolia

Wonderboom fig

Species Card Details

Importance:

Most Ficus species have 26 chromosomes, but tetraploidy has possibly evolved four times within the genus, producing four tetraploid Ficus species, all of which occur in South Africa. Although tetraploidy may provide an advantage in South Africa’s more seasonal climate, its benefits remain unclear. The assembled genome will help test hypotheses on the evolution and potential adaptive significance of tetraploidy.

Sample Contributor contact details:

Jaco M Greeff
University of Pretoria

Date Published:

2026-06-10

Photo credit:

© J. Greeff

Flora

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