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Current Herpetology
Abstract
Abstract:
We determined sequences of mitochondrial control region of 16 specimens of the leatherback turtles, Dermochelys coriacea, collected in the vicinity of Japan, and estimated stock origin of Japanese migrants. As a result, we found three haplotypes (JD1, 2, and 3) in these specimens, and 14 specimens possessed JD1. In comparison with previously reported sequences, JD1 and 2 were identical to a single haplotype endemic to West Pacific stock in New Guinea and Solomon Islands, whereas JD3 was identical to a haplotype nearly endemic to Malaysian stock. Our results indicate that most of the leatherbacks foraging around Japan originate in West Pacific stock, and a few may migrate from the Malaysian nesting population.
We thank T. Ishihara and S. Ueno of Sea Turtle Association of Japan, M. Takahashi of Oga Aquarium GAO, S. Kawada, K. Mori, and Y. Tajima of National Museum of Nature and Science, Y. Nakajima of the University of Tokyo for help in collecting specimens. We are also grateful to B. Bowen and an anonymous reviewer for valuable comments on our manuscript.
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