Complete mitochondrial genome of endangered Socorro Conure (Aratinga brevipes) – taxonomic position of the species and its relationship with Green Conure

Abstract

Socorro Conure (Aratinga brevipes.Aratinga holochlora brevipes) is a parrot endemic to the Island of Socorro. According to some taxonomists the species is considered a subspecies of Green Conure (Aratinga holochlora). Some other classifications treat brevipes as a separate species based on relatively minor morphological differences between both species/subspecies. However, taxonomic position of Aratinga brevipes was never determined by molecular research. We sequenced full mitochondrial genome of the species and constructed phylogenetic tree using sequences of mitochondrial ND2 gene from A. brevipes and some other representatives of Conures group. Our results showed, that despite Aratinga brevipes is closely related to Aratinga holochlora, this Conure should be treated as a separate species.

• Aratinga brevipes
• green conure
• mitogenome
• Socorro Conure

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Mrs Carolina Holguín and all staff of Africam Safari (Km16.5 Blvd. Cap. Carlos Camacho E., Tecali De Herrera, Puebla, Mexico) for help in providing blood samples of Aratinga brevipes species. We also greatly thank MSc Krzysztof Grabowski for technical assistance in the laboratory.