Genome sequence, population history, and pelage genetics of the endangered African wild dog (Lycaon pictus).

ABSTRACT:

Background

The African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is an endangered African canid threatened by severe habitat fragmentation, human-wildlife conflict, and infectious disease. A highly specialized carnivore, it is distinguished by its social structure, dental morphology, absence of dewclaws, and colorful pelage.

Results

We sequenced the genomes of two individuals from populations representing two distinct ecological histories (Laikipia County, Kenya and KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa). We reconstructed population demographic histories for the two individuals and scanned the genomes for evidence of selection.

Conclusions

We show that the African wild dog has undergone at least two effective population size reductions in the last 1,000,000 years. We found evidence of

SUBMITTER: Campana MG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5148847 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature