First report of the complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic analysis of Fraser’s dolphin Lagenodelphis hosei (Cetacea: Delphinidae)

Abstract

Fraser’s dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei Fraser, 1956) is one of the least known and most recently described species in the family Delphinidae, and its complete mitogenome has yet to be determined. Herein, we report the first complete mitogenome of L. hosei. The newly obtained 16,390 bp L. hosei mitogenome showed the highest average nucleotide identity value with the Burrunan dolphin (Tursiops australis, 97.3%), and its overall structure was similar to those from other delphinid species. Multigene phylogeny using the 13 protein coding genes in the mitogenome revealed that L. hosei was well clustered with other species within the subfamily Delphininae, and the overall tree topology was congruent with recent phylogenetic studies of this species. These results provide important insights for conservation genetics and further evolutionary studies of the oceanic dolphins.