Microsatellites in the Karoo scrub-robin, Cercotrichas coryphaeus (Passeriformes: Muscicapinae): isolation and characterization of 13 autosomal and two sex-linked loci

Fifteen polymorphic microsatellites were developed for the Karoo scrub-robin, Cercotrichas coryphaeus. Here we describe and characterize microsatellite variation of 13 autosomal loci and two Z-linked loci in 42 individuals from two distinct South African populations. The number of alleles per locus varied from three to 13 and values of observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.318 to 0.900. These loci will be used to test hypotheses relating to fine-scale social structure and mating strategies in this cooperatively breeding species.