When we analyzed
15 turtles with previously unknown sequences, we detected two other
haplotypes, in addition to the other four. Based on DNA sequencing,
they were identified as the CC-A17 and CC-A1 haplotypes. Further
analyses were made with the sea turtles, Chelonia mydas (N = 8),
Lepidochelys olivacea (N = 3) and Eretmochelys imbricata (N = 1),
demonstrating that the PCR-SSCP technique is able to distinguish
intra- and interspecific variation in the family Cheloniidae. We found
that this technique can be useful for identifying sea turtle mtDNA
haplotypes, reducing the need for sequencing.