Characterization of the mitochondrial genome and phylogeny of the black arowana (Osteoglossum ferreirai)

Abstract

In this study, we sequenced and assembled the mitochondrial (mt) genome of Osteoglossum ferreirai to re-assess the phylogenetic relationship of the family Osteoglossidae. We determined that the mitogenome of O. ferreirai contains the entire set of 37 mt genes, and the nucleotide composition and gene arrangement were similar to those of other bonytongues. Our phylogenetic analyses exhibited monophyly of the family Osteoglossidae with high bootstrap support, which is in agreement with the currently accepted phylogenetic viewpoint that is based on both morphological and molecular approaches. These findings provide additional informative data for the further study of phylogenetic relationships and help to elucidate a key component of the species radiation process within the family Osteoglossidae.