Complete mitochondrial genome of Blue-crowned Parakeet (Aratinga acuticaudata)—phylogenetic position of the species among parrots group called Conures

Abstract

Blue-crowned Parakeet (Aratinga acuticaudata) is a South American parrot species with a taxonomic position not confirmed by molecular studies. We sequenced full mitochondrial genome and constructed phylogenetic tree using sequences of mitochondrial ND2 gene from A. acuticaudata and some other representatives of Conures group. Our results confirmed previously described distribution of Aratinga species into three clades, but surprisingly did not classify Blue-crowned Parakeet to any of them. We found that A. acuticaudata shares the closest relationship with Diopsittaca nobilis and forms a separate clade together with Guaruba guarouba and Leptosittaca branickii species with a significant node. Our results confirm lack of monophyly of the genus Aratinga and underline the need of its taxonomic revision.