Complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic position of the Levanidov's charr Salvelinus levanidovi Chereshnev, Skopetz et Gudkov, 1989 (Salmoniformes, Salmonidae)

The complete mitochondrial genome was sequenced in Levanidov's charr Salvelinus levanidovi. The genome sequences are 16,624 bp, and the gene arrangement, composition, and size are similar to the charr genomes. The level of divergence between S. levanidovi and charr belonging to the genus Salvelinus was in the range from 4.80% to 3.65%. Molecular phylogeny provides new evidence that S. levanidovi is closely related to the common ancestor of the genus Salvelinus. The present study confirms that S. fontinalis, S. levanidovi, S. leucomaensis, and S. namaycus form a basal group of taxa, each of them belongs to an independent evolutionary line.