Molecular characterization of some species of freshwater turtles of family Geoemydidae from India by using 12S rRNA gene.

摘要

28 species of tortoises and freshwater turtles occur in India. Many species in spite of legal protection are threatened due to exploitation for food and other uses. The molecular analysis of species is known to be useful in providing species specific sequences for wildlife forensic as well as for phylogenetic study. The present study used 12S rRNA gene to characterize species of freshwater turtles of family Geoemydidae viz. Morenia petersi, Kachuga tectum, Kachuga tentoria circumdata and Melanochelys trijuga. The partial gene sequence of 12S rRNA gene of the species obtained was used to generate the phylogenetic tree.