Museomics Sheds Light on Evolutionary Diversity in a Critically Endangered Cockatoo Species From Wallacea.

ABSTRACT: Accurate identification of evolutionarily significant units of rare and threatened organisms provides a foundation for effective management and conservation. Up to seven subspecies of the critically endangered Yellow-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea) have been described, four of which were commonly recognised pre-2014. In the absence of genotypic data, C. sulphurea subspecies delimitation has been based on morphology, behaviour and biogeography. To clarify genetic relationships and shed light on the diversification of this parrot radiation, whole genomes were sequenced for 16 museum specimens, covering the geographic range of the proposed seven subspecies as well as one C. galerita galerita. Combined with four museum-derived wild Cacatua sequences from NCBI, the results indicate there a

SUBMITTER: Andersson AA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12684316 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature