Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in Darwin’s fox (Lycalopex fulvipes) and cross-amplification in other canid species

Darwin’s fox (Lycalopex fulvipes) is one of the most endangered canid of the world. It occurs only in two small populations in the South of Chile. We obtained molecular markers useful for population level studies of the Darwin’s fox by screening partial genomic DNA libraries enriched for microsatellite repeats. We developed 11 microsatellite loci and genotyped 24 individuals from one of the two known populations. The loci had between 2 and 4 alleles and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.041 to 0.608. All of these pairs of primers also successfully amplified DNA from two other Lycalopex Chilean foxes and two other canids. These microsatellite markers will be useful to assess the genetic diversity of the species.