Isolation and characterisation of 36 polymorphic microsatellite markers using 454 sequencing in the bar-shouldered skink, Ctenotus inornatus

We report on the development of 36 novel polymorphic microsatellite markers from the bar-shouldered skink, Ctenotus inornatus . Members in this genus account for up to 20 % of the diverse Australian lizard species. Microsatellite markers were developed to investigate island endemism amongst Kimberley islands taxa. We describe the diversity from 110 adult Ctenotus individuals. Overall, the markers produced between 9 to 40 alleles per locus and observed and expected heterozygosities of 74.6 and 95.7 %, respectively. Due to island endemism, habitat modification by introduced grazing mammals, some urban encroachment and changes in fire regime there has been fragmentation of its range. These microsatellite markers are an important tool for evaluating population genetic information and for prioritising populations for conservation management.