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Group:
Insect
Estimated genome size:
Its body is about 16-21 mm, and its probiscis (tongue) is 20-47mm long.
Size:
Its body is about 16-21 mm, and its probiscis (tongue) is 20-47mm long.
Distribution:
Its range is in south western Africa, specifically extreme southwestern Namibia through the western part of Northern Cape Province in South Africa (Namaqualand), and into the northwestern portion of the Western Cape Province. Key areas of high diversity include the Kamieskroon area of Namaqualand and the Pakhuis Mountains in the Western Cape.
PromethION Sequencing Report:
Output:
34.81 Gigabases
Approximate N50:
1.09 kilobases
Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:
Genome Length:
0.56 Gigabases
BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):
99.0% [S: 94.7%, D: 4.2%]
Importance:
The Long-tongued fly is important ecologically. It is a keystone pollinator for a whole guild of long-tubed, vividly colored flowers. Through its specialized morphology and behavior, it facilitates efficient and species-specific pollination, supports plant biodiversity, and likely drives co-evolution in its plant partners.
Sample Contributor contact details:
Simon Van Noort
Iziko Museums of South Africa
Group:
Eudicot
Genome size:
768 Million DNA base pairs (0,77 Giga bases)
Size:
5-30cm
Distribution:
Cape Flats to Wellington, with outlying populations near Bredasdorp, Western Cape.
PromethION Sequencing Report:
Output:
95 Gigabases
Approximate N50:
5.61 kilobases
Assembly N50:
TBA
Contig number:
TBA
Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:
Assembler used:
TBA
Genome Length:
432.36 Mb
BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):
99.6%
BUSCO database:
TBA
Oxalis natans
Water Sorrel
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Importance:
This highly threatened species is one of the true aquatic species in Oxalis, but much of its original habitat has been lost to urbanisation. Interestingly, it is completely unrelated to the other aquatic species - the genome of this species may offer insights into its conservation, and also into the convergent evolution of an aquatic habit in South African Oxalis. It is Redlisted as Critically Rare.
Sample Contributor contact details:
Dr Kenneth Oberlander
University of Pretoria
Date Published:
2024-10-30
Photo credit:
© J. van der Merwe
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