Data from: Integrating molecular, phenotypic and environmental data to elucidate patterns of crocodile hybridization in Belize

Description

The genus Crocodylus comprises 12 currently recognized species, many of which can be difficult to differentiate phenotypically. Interspecific hybridization among crocodiles is known to occur in captivity and has been documented between some species in the wild. The identification of hybrid individuals is of importance for management and monitoring of crocodilians, many of which are Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) listed. In this study, both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers were evaluated for their use in confirming a suspected hybrid zone between American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) and Morelet’s crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) populations in southern Belize where individuals and nests exhibiting atypical phenotypic features had previously been observed. Patterns observed in both phenotypic and molecular data indicate possible behavioural and ecological characteristics associated with hybridization events. The results of the combined analyses found that the majority of suspected hybrid samples represent crosses between female C. acutus and male C. moreletii. Phenotypic data could statistically identify hybrids, although morphological overlap between hybrids and C. moreletii reduced reliability of identification based solely on field characters. Ecologically, C. acutus was exclusively found in saline waters, whereas hybrids and C. moreletii were largely absent in these conditions. A hypothesized correlation between unidirectional hybridization and destruction of C. acutus breeding habitats warrants additional research.,microsatellite alleles for hybrid C. acutus and C. moreletiiMicrosatellite data set for 7 loci used for STRUCTURE and NewHybrids analyses.RSOSHekkalaetalmsats.xlsbioclim_and_salinityBioclim data and salinity data for localities in southern Belize where parental C. acutus, C. moreletii and hybrids samples were collected.croc_morphologyMorphometric and scalation data for genetically identified C. acutus, C. moreletii and hybrid crocodiles in southern Belize.Carib12sInterleavedCarib16sInterleavedCaribDloopInterleaved

Publication Date

1-1-2015

Publisher

DRYAD

DOI

10.5061/dryad.32h8t

Language

en

Document Type

Data Set

Identifier

10.5061/dryad.32h8t

Embargo Date

1-1-2015

Version

1

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS