Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of Stejneger's beaked whale, Mesoplodon stejnegeri (Cetacea: Ziphiidae)

Abstract

Stejneger’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon stejnegeri, True in Proc US Natl Mus 8:584？585, 1885) is one of the least known cold temperate and subarctic species of the beaked whales (Zhiphiidae) found in the North Pacific Ocean, and its complete mitogenome has yet to be investigated. Herein, we report the complete mitogenome of M. stejnegeri stranded in South Korea. Although its overall structure was similar to those from the other cetacean species, the obtained 16,349 bp mitogenome showed only 92.5% average nucleotide identity value with its closest relative, Blainville’s beaked whale, M. densirostris, and less with other species in the Zhiphiidae family. Multigene phylogeny using the whole mitogenome revealed that M. stejnegeri was well separated from other Mesoplodon species, and the overall tree topology was in accordance with recent phylogenetic analyses. These results provide information fundamental for the genetic conservation and further evolutionary studies of the beaked whales.