Novel microsatellite loci identified from the Australian eastern small-eyed snake (Elapidae: Rhinocephalus nigrescens ) and cross species amplification in the related genus Suta

Abstract

A total of 15 microsatellite primers pairs were developed for the Australian small-eyed snake Rhinoplocephalus nigrescens. Five primers were used to screen 93 individuals of R. nigrescens and were also tested against eight species of the closely related genus Suta. Allelic diversity in R. nigrescens was high in three loci (12-27) and there was high heterozygosity (0.58-0.82). Observed heterozygosity did not deviate from Hardy-Weinberg expectations for the five loci tested. These primers will be useful in studies of population genetics and mating systems of small-eyed snakes and related species.