Mitochondrial haplotypes and microsatellite genotypes for grass and water snakes of the genus Natrix: A range-wide resource (Squamata, Natricidae).

BACKGROUND: Grass and water snakes of the genus Natrix are a dominant component of the Palaearctic reptile fauna, with a broad distribution ranging from North Africa across much of Europe to Lake Baikal in Central Asia. As part of a series of studies on the phylogeography and systematics of the group, a large database of mtDNA sequences and microsatellite genotypes was compiled for all five Natrix species.

NEW INFORMATION: We present a range-wide genetic database comprising georeferenced information for approximately 3,700 snakes belonging to the grass snake complex (i.e. Natrix astreptophora, N. helvetica, N. natrix), N. maura, N. tessellata and interspecific hybrids. This unique repository can serve as a comprehensive resource for phylogeographic, population genetic and systematic studies, as well as for monitoring hybrid zone dynamics and future anthropogenic hybridisation and admixture resulting from translocated non-native snakes.