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Group:
Reptile
Size:
12 cm (maximum total carapace length).
Distribution:
Found along the southern coastal area of South Africa.
PromethION Sequencing Report:
Output:
90.94 Gigabases
Approximate N50:
6.55 kilobases
Assembly N50:
21 732.26 kilobases
Contig number:
2 174
Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:
Assembler used:
Hifiasm
Genome Length:
2.44 Gigabases
BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):
100.0% [Single: 97.3%, Duplicated: 2.7%]
BUSCO database:
eukaryota
Importance:
The parrot-beaked tortoise (Homopus areolatus) is a South African endemic that contributes to vegetation dynamics and seed dispersal in the Cape Floristic Region. It is also distinctive among tortoises, with four digits on all four feet. Its newly generated genome assembly provides an important resource for conservation studies on population structure, local adaptation and climate resilience.
Sample Contributor contact details:
Zhongning Zhao
University of the Free State
Date Published:
2026-06-04
Photo credit:
© Z. Zhao
Fauna
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