top of page
Group:
Moncot
Estimated genome size:
50 to 100 cm in height
Size:
50 to 100 cm in height
Distribution:
Endemic to South Africa, the Miracle Clivia Lily is known to occur in the Oorlogskloof area near the town of Nieuwoudtville in the Northern Cape. The species has only been recorded in the Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve, where two subpopulations are found on the Bokkeveldberge plateau.
PromethION Sequencing Report:
Output:
426.45 Gigabases
Approximate N50:
12.38 kilobases
Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:
Genome Length:
15.12 Gigabases
BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):
99.3% [S: 69.9%, D: 29.4%]
Importance:
Clivia mirabilis survives in an unusually arid environment compared with other Clivia species, which is why it is known as the “miracle lily”. Its distinctive hardiness has made it desirable for breeders seeking to improve ornamental Clivia lines. However, heavy illegal poaching has removed thousands of plants from the wild. This leaves the remaining population dangerously small and at risk of extinction in its natural habitat.
Sample Contributor contact details:
Felix Middleton
Clivia Society of South Africa
Group:
Mammal
Estimated genome size:
Size:
Medium-sized canids, males on average 40 cm tall (at the shoulder) and 8 kg in weight, females typically weigh around 7 kg.
Distribution:
There are two subspecies. The southern subspecies presented here, Lupulella. m. mesomelas, occurs from the southern part of South Africa to the southwestern part of Angola, northern Botswana, central Zimbabwe, and southwestern Mozambique. L. m. schmidti occurs further north.
PromethION Sequencing Report:
Output:
55.29 Gigabases
Approximate N50:
5.2 kilobases
Assembly N50:
6 811.19 kilobases
Contig number:
2 942
Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:
Assembler used:
Flye
Genome Length:
2.33 Gigabases
BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):
99.2% [Single: 87.8%, Duplicated: 11.4%]
BUSCO database:
eukaryota
Lupulella mesomelas
Black-backed jackal
Importance:
The black-backed jackal (Lupulella mesomelas, formerly Canis mesomelas) is a keystone species in South Africa, maintaining ecosystem balance through rodent control and carrion scavenging that limits disease spread. Its climate adaptability makes it ecologically significant. Genome sequencing is crucial for understanding disease resistance (e.g., rabies resilience), revealing evolutionary adaptations among canids, conserving genetic diversity amid habitat loss, and mitigating human-wildlife conflict.
Sample Contributor contact details:
Dr Carel J Oosthuizen
University of Pretoria
Date Published:
2025-08-27
Photo credit:
© A. Webster
bottom of page