Development and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci for spiny-footed lizards, Acanthodactylusscutellatus group (Reptilia, Lacertidae) from arid regions

BACKGROUND: Spiny-footed lizards constitute a diverse but scarcely studied genus. Microsatellite markers would help increasing the knowledge about species boundaries, patterns of genetic diversity and structure, and gene flow dynamics. We developed a set of 22 polymorphic microsatellite loci for cross-species amplification in three taxa belonging to the Acanthodactylus scutellatus species group, A. aureus, A. dumerili/A. senegalensis and A. longipes, and tested the same markers in two other members of the group, A. scutellatus and A. taghitensis. RESULTS: Amplifications in A. aureus, A. longipes and A. dumerili/A.senegalensis were successful, with markers exhibiting a number of alleles varying between 1 and 19. Expected and observed heterozygosity ranged, respectively, between 0.046–0.893 and 0.048–1.000. Moreover, 17 and 16 loci were successfully amplified in A. scutellatus and A. taghitensis, respectively. CONCLUSION: These markers are provided as reliable genetic tools to use in future evolutionary, behavioural and conservation studies involving species from the A. scutellatus group.