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Phylum:

Chordata

Estimated genome size:

3 – 4 meters

Organism size:

3 – 4 meters

Distribution:

Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

PromethION Sequencing Report:

Output:

110.47 Gigabases

Approximate N50:

8.38 kilobases

Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:

Genome Length:

3.16 Gigabases

BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):

98.8% [S: 82.7%, D: 15.3%]

Importance:

African savanna elephants are the largest land animals and crucial ecosystem engineers. Listed as endangered by the IUCN Red list, they are vital for South African tourism. This project aims to sequence the genome of a wild bull elephant from a native KZN population, providing valuable genetic data beyond existing zoo based or outdated sequences.

Sample Contributor contact details

Dr Carel J. Oosthuizen
University of Pretoria

Phylum:

Magnoliophyta

Estimated genome size:

739 million DNA base pairs (0.74 Gigabases)

Organism size:

One to two meters in height

Distribution:

The rush-leaved strelitzia is indigenous to South Africa and occurs in sparse populations near Uitenhage, Patensie, and north of Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape. It grows in dry, open habitats.

PromethION Sequencing Report:

Output:

19.82 Gigabases

Approximate N50:

13.25 kilobases

Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:

Genome Length:

592.36 million bases (0.59 Gigabases)

BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):

98.8% [S: 57.6%, D: 41.2%]

Strelitzia juncea

Rush-leaved strelitzia

Species Card Details

Importance:

The rush-leaved strelitzia or narrow-leaved bird of paradise is a striking, drought-resistant plant indigenous to South Africa. It has unique cylindrical leaves and vibrant flowers, is slow-growing and adapted to semi-arid conditions Wild populations face threats from habitat loss and illegal collection for horticultural purposes.

Sample Contributor contact details

Prof. Eshchar Mizrachi
University of Pretoria

Date Published

2025-02-17

DOI

Photo credit:

© G.J. Mann

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