The complete mitochondrial genome of western painted turtle, Chrysemys picta bellii (Chrysemys, Emydidae)

Abstract

In this study, we report the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of western painted turtle, Chrysemys picta bellii. The genome is found to be 16,875 bp in length and has a base composition of A (34.4%), G (13.0%), C (26.0%), and T (26.6%). Similar to other turtles, it contains a typically conserved structure including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and 1 control region (D-loop). Most of the genes are encoded on H-strand, except for the eight tRNA and ND6 genes. All protein-coding genes start with an ATN codon except for COX1 and ND4, which initiate with GTG instead, and terminate with the typical stop codon (TAA/TAG) or a single T (T‐) or an unexpected codon of AGG. The complete mitochondrial genome sequence provided here would be useful for further phylogenetic analysis and conservation genetic studies in C. p. bellii.