Pigmented hemosporidian parasites that do not exhibit erthyrocytic schizogony, and infect birds, chelonians, and squamates, have been classified in various genera over time. These classifications have reflected vertebrate hosts, insect vectors, and variations in morphology and life history observed in representative species. Side-necked turtles ( Podocnemis spp.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe present a mtDNA analysis of Podocnemis expansa (n = 81) and Podocnemis unifilis (n = 228) turtles traded in Peru to evaluate the potential origin of these animals. In particular, we were interested in the relationship between samples reported in the Iquitos markets (IMs) and a Pacaya Samiria Natural Reserve (PSNR) where illegal hunting is presumed. Our mtDNA data showed that, for both species, all haplotypes found within the PSNR were observed in the IM, and that these markets also displayed haplotypes not documented in the reserve.
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