Isolation and characterization of swift fox tetranucleotide microsatellite loci

Abstract Primers have been developed for nine polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellite loci isolated from the swift fox ( Vulpes velox ). These can be amplified in three multiplex reactions and all loci can be scored easily and without ambiguity. The number of alleles per locus ranged from three to 14 and the overall heterozygosities ranged from 0.54 to 1.00. All loci were in Hardy‐Weinberg equilibrium, but two loci were in linkage disequilibrium. These loci will be used to monitor endangered swift fox populations on the Canadian prairies.