Morphological and genetic evidence of hybridisation between Mauremys mutica (Cantor, 1842) and Mauremys leprosa (Schweigger, 1812) in northeast Spain

The analysis of mitochondrial DNA indicated that the maternal lineage was unequivocally M. mutica (pure or hybrid), but nuclear DNA revealed a heterozygote position at the C-mos gene, matching sequences for this gene in GenBank from both M. leprosa and M. mutica. These results highlight the negative impact of alien turtles, which can genetically contaminate vulnerable native turtle populations. Leer más.