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Abstract
The complete mitochondrial genome of the Lesser Cuckoo Cuculus poliocephalus was determined using next-generation sequencing. Phylogenetic analyses with 20 cuckoo species and six genes (12S, ATP6, CYTb, ND2, ND3, and ND6) strongly verified the identity of our sample as grouping with C. poliocephalus, which was sister to a clade of other Cuculus spp., including C. canorus, C. micropterus, and C. saturatus. The mitogenomic length of C. poliocephalus was 17 508 bp, including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, one control region with 48 bp unit tandem repeats close to 3′ end, and one short pseudo-control region with 33 tandem repeats of CAACAAA. An extra nucleotide (T) was identified at position 174 of ND3. The mitogenome of C. poliocephalus will contribute to studies of mitogenomic evolution, the phylogenetic relationship of cuckoos, and the co-evolutionary pattern between brood parasitic birds and their hosts.
Acknowledgements
This paper was improved by feedback from Rebecca T. Kimball and Rob DeSalle. The authors are grateful to Tongping Su for assistance with sample collection and Kuankuoshui National Nature Reserve for the cooperation and help.
Declaration of interest
The authors report that they have no conflict of interest. This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants 31360510 to N. W., 31301894 to B. L., 31272328, and 31472013 to W. L).