Molecular Data for the Sea Turtle Population in Brazil

Abstract EN

We report here a dataset comprising nine nuclear markers for the Brazilian population of Cheloniidae turtles: hawksbills (Eretmochelys imbricata), loggerheads (Caretta caretta), olive ridleys (Lepidochelys olivacea), and green turtles (Chelonia mydas).

Because hybridization is a common phenomenon between the four Cheloniidae species nesting on the Brazilian coast, we also report molecular markers for the hybrids E.

imbricata × C.

caretta, C.

caretta × L.

olivacea, and E.

imbricata × L.

olivacea and for one hybrid E.

imbricata × C.

mydas and one between three species C.

mydas × E.

imbricata × C.

caretta.

The data was used in previous studies concerning (1) the description of frequent hybrids C.

caretta × E.

imbricata in Brazil, (2) the report of introgression in some of these hybrids, and (3) population genetics.

As a next step for the study of these hybrids and their evolution, genome-wide studies will be performed in the Brazilian population of E.

imbricata, C.

caretta, and their hybrids.