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Group:
Reptile
Size:
Adults usually measure 30 - 45 cm, but in populations at the extremes of their distribution, they often attain 60 - 75 cm.
Distribution:
The leopard tortoise ranges widely across eastern and southern Africa, from
Ethiopia and Kenya southward through Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Eswatini, and South Africa. It inhabits savanna, grassland, and semi-arid scrub habitats, preferring loose soil for burrowing.
PromethION Sequencing Report:
Output:
66.19 Gigabases
Approximate N50:
9.32 kilobases
Assembly N50:
5 360.99 kilobases
Contig number:
2 219
Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:
Assembler used:
Hifiasm
Genome Length:
2.46 Gigabases
BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):
100.0% [S: 97.3%, D: 2.7%]
BUSCO database:
eukaryota
Importance:
The leopard tortoise is a keystone species in South African savannas, grazing, dispersing seeds, and shaping microhabitats. Genome sequencing can reveal resilience traits, population connectivity, and guide conservation strategies to safeguard the species and maintain ecosystem stability under climate change.
Sample Contributor contact details:
Dr Zhongning Zhao
University of Free State
Date Published:
2026-02-04
Photo credit:
© Z. Zhao
Fauna
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