Sequencing and analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome of Elaphe anomala (Squamata Colubridae)

Abstract

In this study, the complete mitogenome sequence of Elaphe anomala (Squamata: Colubridae) is first determined using long PCR. It is a circular molecule of 17,164 bp in length and contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes and 2 control regions (CRI and CRII). The gene order and nucleotide composition of E. anomala are very similar with E. schrenckii. Mitochondrial genomes analyses based on the NJ method yield phylogenetic tree of 17 species snakes of Colubridae. Species E. anomala, E. schrenckii, E. bimaculata and E. davidi seemed to have formed a monophyletic group with the high bootstrap value (100%) except E. poryphyracea. Oligodon ningshaanensis and Thermophis zhaoermii are special species. The molecular data presented here provide a useful tool for setting the stage for further studies.

• Colubridae
• Elaphe anomala
• mitogenome
• phylogenetic tree

Declaration of interest

We thank Zhong-Bin Yue for collecting specimen and Yong-Jun Shu for data analysis. This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (#31172079). The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.