Determination of the haplotype and complete mitochondrial genome of the leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea (Testudines: Dermochelyidae) found in the vicinity of Korea

Abstract

Although several strandings of the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea Vandelli, 1761) have been reported in Korea, its haplotype or mitogenome have yet to be investigated. Herein, we report the first complete mitogenome of D. coriacea. The 16,501-bp sequenced mitogenome is similar to those of other marine turtles, and the particular genetic features reported in birds and turtles were also found in ND3 and ATP8. The comparison of the control region verified that D. coriacea stranded in Korea belonged to the haplotype JD1 (identical to haplotypes I and Dc9.1). Multigene phylogeny revealed that D. coriacea was well separated from other Cheloniidae species, and the overall tree topology was congruent with the recent phylogenetic analysis of marine turtles. These results provide information fundamental for genetic and conservation studies on leatherbacks, especially the critically endangered West Pacific Ocean subpopulation.