Hybridization and transoceanic migration of sea turtles from Alagoas, Southwest Atlantic Ocean
Population genetics, Eretmochelys imbricata, Caretta caretta, Lepidochelys olivacea, Chelonia mydas, hybrids
Hybridization among sea turtles have been sparsely described, however recent studies from the coast of Brazil have reported high incidence of this phenomenon. Here we investigate hybridization among four sea turtle species in nesting and feeding grounds in north-eastern Brazil. Using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA we were able to identify hybrids between loggerheads and hawksbills, loggerheads and olive ridleys and loggerhead and green turtles. Additionally, we identified a hawksbill haplotype typical of Indo-Pacific rookeries. Our results indicate that hybridization events might be even more geographically spread along the coast of Brazil and reinforce the connection between hawksbills from the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific ocean basins.