Complete mitochondrial genome of a new vole Proedromys liangshanensis (Rodentia: Cricetidae) and phylogenetic analysis with related species: Are there implications for the validity of the genus Proedromys?

Abstract

Aim. The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of a newly discovered vole, Proedromys liangshanensis (Rodentia: Cricetidae: Arvicolinae), was determined. Results. The mitogenome of P. liangshanensis is 16,296 bp in length. As with most other mammals, it contains the same gene order and an identical number of genes or regions, including 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and one putative control region. The A+T content of the control region is 58.2%, the lowest proportion detected so far in Myomorpha. To confirm the phylogenetic position of P. liangshanensis, we carried out phylogenetic analyses based on complete mitochondrial genomic data using Bayesian, maximum parsimony, and maximum likelihood methods. Conclusion. All results revealed that P. liangshanenis is sister to Microtus. Although the results do not bear light on the validity of the genus Proedromys, based on the morphological characters, we suggest that Proedromys is an independent genus of equal rank to the genus Microtus.

Keywords::

• Arvicolinae
• mitochondrial genome
• phylogeny

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Emily H. King and Miao He at Sichuan University for valuable help with the manuscript. This research was funded by National Basic Research Program of China (973 Project: 2007 CB109106).

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.