top of page
Group:
Reptile
Estimated genome size:
17 cm maximum (total body length).
Size:
17 cm maximum (total body length).
Distribution:
It is found in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Western Cape and Northern Cape
provinces of South Africa.
PromethION Sequencing Report:
Output:
89.36 Gigabases
Approximate N50:
6.51 kilobases
Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:
Genome Length:
4.53 Gigabases
BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):
99.6% [Single: 50.6%, Duplicated: 49%]
Importance:
The greater padloper tortoise is endemic to South Africa and contributes to ecosystem stability in the Karoo. As the largest species in the genus Homopus, it is of scientific interest for studies of limb development, as it is one of only two Homopus species with four digits on each foot.
Sample Contributor contact details:
Zhongning Zhao
University of the Free State
Group:
Reptile
Estimated genome size:
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
Stigmochelys pardalis
Leopard tortoise
.jpg)
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
bottom of page