Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci from a threatened rattlesnake (New Mexico Ridge‐nosed Rattlesnake, Crotalus willardi obscurus)

Abstract

AbstractSix novel microsatellite loci are identified from genomic DNA of the threatened New Mexico Ridge‐nosed Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi obscurus). Data from the Animas Mountains (New Mexico) population demonstrate these loci: (i) are highly variable with 5–24 alleles per locus, expected heterozygosities between 0.35 and 0.92, and observed heterozygosities between 0.32 and 0.91; (ii) are sufficiently variable for assigning parentage with total exclusionary power for the first parent of 0.96, and 0.99 for the second parent; and (iii) amplify similar size fragments in other rattlesnakes (C. atrox, C. lutosus, C. scutulatus, and C. tigris).