Preliminary Molecular Variability of Some Dove Species Inhabiting Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Approximately 800 bp of the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene were sequenced for the Eurasian collared-dove Streptopelia decaocto and the African collared-dove Streptopelia roseogrisea. The first species was collected from Taif at the eastern boarder of Sarawat mountains and from Jazan at the southwest, while the second was collected from Taif only. These obtained sequences were used to study the genetic variability between the two species. The base differences between the two species were 19 sites along the sequenced fragment, while there was no intra-specific difference. It is therefore noteworthy to conclude that the Eurasian dove is homogenous along the range of distribution throughout Sarawat mountains and the small variability between the two dove species is indicative to their morphological and genetic similarity.