Complete mitochondrial genome of the endangered Asian giant softshell turtle Pelochelys cantorii (Testudinata: Trionychidae)

Abstract

The complete mitogenomes of the endangered Asian giant softshell turtle Pelochelys cantorii (Testudinata: Trionychidae) were first determined from two living specimens, with the lengths of 17,612 and 17,499 bp, which showed the typical mitogenomic characteristics of vertebrates. An A+1 frameshift mutation at position 174 of the ND3 gene was identified. Seven point mutations were found between the two mitogenomes. The length variation of the two mitogenomes was due to the different repeat numbers of the tandem motifs in the control regions.

Keywords::

• Pelochelys cantorii
• mitogenome
• frameshift mutation

Declaration of interest: This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41006080) and Ministry of Science and Technology of Zhejiang Province (2007F10011). The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.