Complete mitochondrial genome of Critically Endangered Blue-throated Macaw (Ara glaucogularis): its comparison with partial mitogenome of Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao)

Abstract

Blue-throated Macaw (Ara glaucogularis) is Critically Endangered species of parrot endemic to small Bolivian area. In this study, full mitochondrial genome of considered species was sequenced. It is 16,983 bp long and contains 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNAs, 22 tRNAs and a control region. It`s comparison with published Ara macao mitogenome revealed their high degree of identity. On the other hand, analysis of both the genome compositions showed incompleteness of Ara macao CYTB gene. Hence, mitogenome of Ara macao species occurred only partial sequence. In consequence, Ara glaucogularis mitogenome is the first complete Macaw sequence, which will be indispensable to refine the phylogenetic relationships within the tribe Arini and will enrich the resource of markers for systematic, phylogenetic and population genetic studies.

• Ara glaucogularis
• Arini
• blue-throated Macaw
• mitogenome
• Psittaciformes

Acknowledgements

The author thanks MSc Krzysztof Grabowski for technical assistance in the laboratory.

Declaration of interest

The author reports no conflicts of interest. The author alone is responsible for the content and writing of the paper.