Complete mitochondrial genome of white-eyed parakeet (Psittacara leucophthalmus): the basal species to other Psittacara

Abstract

Recently resurrected Psittacara genus is one of the 19 recognized in parrot tribe Arini. The status of taxa within Psittacara remains controversial because some forms are treated as species or subspecies depending on authorities. Evolutionary history of Psittacara is also unclear because related phylogenetic clades contain taxa from distant and non-overlapping regions. However, the basal placement of Psittacara leucophthalmus with wide South American distribution suggests that other taxa with restricted range could emerge by a local split of larger population. We sequenced P. leucophthalmus mitogenome to increase the set of sequences required to determine taxonomic level and phylogeny of Psittacara taxa.