Distinct mtDNA lineages in free‐ranging Ammotragus(aoudad) from the United States indicate multiple introductions from northern Africa

Translocation records indicate aoudad (Ammotragus lervia) populations in the United States are a product of multiple human‐mediated introductions. Two mitochondrial markers (cytochrome b, cytb; displacement loop, D loop) and one nuclear gene (prion protein gene exon 3, PRNP) were used to determine: (1) genetic variation, (2) if genetic units correspond to taxonomic designations, (3) the number and geographic origin of translocations, and (4) divergence times. Three phylogenetic analyses (Bayesian inference, maximum likelihood, and parsimony) produced similar topologies with two clades (I and II). Clade I contained progeny of individuals resulting from introductions to Texas and Spain, and individuals from Algeria. Individuals in Clade II were progeny of past introductions to the United States and Europe, and northern Algeria. Clade II was subdivided into two subclades (A and B) representing two haplogroups. No genetic variation was detected in the PRNP sequences. Three haplogroups appeared to correspond to the subspecies A. l. lervia and A. l. sahariensis whose native distribution includes northwestern Africa. Network analyses assigned haplogroups to two major groups similar to those depicted in the phylogenetic analyses. Genetic distances ranged from 0.80% to 5.17% and 2.99% to 15.42% for cytb and D loop, respectively; and were higher than normally recovered for caprids, warranting a reexamination of subspecific status. Divergence dates indicated a major split between A. l. lervia and A. l. sahariensis circa 2.38 mya. Together, the high level of genetic divergences among US populations and apparent presence of two subspecies of aoudad in the United States support the hypothesis of multiple introductions from multiple sources. This manuscript explains that human‐mediated translocations of aoudad into the United States were a result of multiple introductions with putative subspecies identification as A. l. sahariensis and/or A. l. blainei and A. l. lervia. Two major clades were identified using phylogenetic, network, and divergence analyses, in which genetic distances ranged from 0.80% to 5.17% and from 2.99% to 15.42% for cytochrome b and displacement loop. Given the extensive number of free‐ranging aoudad currently in Texas, the manuscript provides baseline genetic data for future management and conservation plans being developed for a species that is considered “vulnerable” in its native range.