Complete mitochondrial genome of endangered Maroon-fronted Parrot (Rhynchopsitta terrisi) – conspecific relation of the species with Thick-billed Parrot (Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha)

Abstract

Maroon-fronted Parrot (Rhynchopsitta terrisi) is an endangered parrot endemic to pine-oak forests in north-eastern Mexico. According to all present classifications, R. terrisi as well as Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha are treated as a separate species based on some morphological and behavioral discrepancies. Despite this formal separation of the two species, some taxonomists conjecture their conspecific character. However, mutual taxonomic position of both species/subspecies was never verified by molecular research. We sequenced full mitochondrial genome of R. terrisi and constructed phylogenetic tree using sequences of mitochondrial ND2 gene from R. terrisi. R. pahyrchyncha and some other representative species of the tribe Arini. Our results indicated that in contrast to formal classification, both Rhynchopsitta taxa should be treated as subspecies.

• Psittacidae
• Psittaciformes
• Rhynchopsitta terrisi
• Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha

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 their help in providing blood samples of R. terrisi.