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Group:

Eudicot

Estimated genome size:

1.5 m in height

Size:

1.5 m in height

Distribution:

Brunia noduliflora occurs from the Cederberg southwards to the Cape Peninsula and eastwards as far as the Cockscomb in the Groot Winterhoek Mountains of the Eastern Cape, at altitudes from near sea level to approximately 1 500 m.

PromethION Sequencing Report:

Output:

39.88 Gigabases

Approximate N50:

16.91 kilobases

Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:

Genome Length:

0.72 Gigabases

BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):

97.40% [S: 47.0%, D: 50.0%]

Importance:

Brunia noduliflora is the most widespread species in the subgenus Brunia and occurs across diverse fynbos habitats in the Cape Floristic Region. Its broad ecological range makes it valuable for studying diversification and adaptation within the Bruniaceae.

Sample Contributor contact details:

Leanne Dreyer
Stellenbosch University

Group:

Reptile

Estimated genome size:

Size:

Maximum 15 cm for female, 10.5 cm for male

Distribution:

The Karoo tent tortoise occurs only in the lower and central Karoo region, between Touws River and Makhanda.

PromethION Sequencing Report:

Output:

107.98 Gigabases

Approximate N50:

10.35 kilobases

Assembly N50:

3 436.17 kilobases

Contig number:

7201

Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:

Assembler used:

TBA

Genome Length:

2.24 Gigabases

BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):

99.6% [S: 97.3%, D: 2.4%]

BUSCO database:

TBA

Psammobates tentorius tentorius

Karoo tent tortoise

Species Card Details

Importance:

The Karoo tent tortoise is an important seed disperser for various plant species and endemic to South Africa. It is arguably one of the most taxonomically confusing and morphologically polymorphic species of Testudines. It is listed as "Near Threatened" by the IUCN and is confined to the central and lower Karoo regions. Remarkably, no genomic studies have been conducted on any tortoise species in Africa or across the entire Southern Hemisphere.

Sample Contributor contact details:

Dr Zhongning Zhao
University of the Free State

Date Published:

2025-07-17

Photo credit:

© Zhongning Zhao

Fauna

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