Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci in the endangered Portuguese freshwater fish Squalius aradensis (Cyprinidae)

Here we describe the isolation and characterization of six polymorphic microsatellite loci for Squalius aradensis. The number of observed alleles per locus ranged from three to 16 and the observed heterozygosity from 0.22 to 0.95. These primers will be useful in determining the population structure of S. aradensis and for conservation genetics of this endangered and endemic species. Furthermore, successful cross-species amplification in S. alburnoides and Chondrostoma lusitanicum suggests that a wider amplification of these markers is possible.