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After the establishment of an endosymbiotic relationship between a proto-mitochondrion and its probable archaeal host, mitochondrial genomes underwent a spectacular reductive evolution. An interesting pathway was chosen by mitogenomes of unicellular protists called dinoflagellates, which experienced an additional wave of reduction followed by amplification and rearrangement leading to their secondary complexity. The former resulted in a mitogenome consisting of only three protein-coding genes, the latter in their multiple copies being scattered across numerous chromosomes and the evolution of complex processes for their expression. These stunning features raise a question about the future of the dinoflagellate mitochondrial genome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertebrate mitogenomes are thought to be selected for compactness. Therefore, the increasing number of avian mitogenomes comprising duplicated regions is surprising. Such regions were proposed for at least 26 parrot genera based on the length of PCR products. However, complete mitogenomes with the duplications were shown only for six genera. These duplications evolved probably from the ancestral tRNATHR/tRNAPRO/ND6/tRNAGLU/CR and were subjected to subsequent degeneration. Here, we report the mitogenome of Poicephalus gulielmi (the subfamily Psittacinae) with a unique duplication tRNATHR/pseudoND6/CR1/tRNAPRO/ND6/tRNAGLU/CR2. This region is different from all other identified regions and resembles mostly the arrangements in Amazona and Pionus from the subfamily Arinae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medium-sized neotropical parrots from Pionus genus are represented by at least eight species. However, their taxonomy should be revised because some external morphological characters together with genetic data recognize 19 taxa. At present, only two mitochondrial markers are available for most of these taxa and obtained phylogenies are not well resolved. Therefore, we sequenced Pionus chalcopterus chalcopterus mitogenome to gain more molecular data required for future studies of the taxonomical status and phylogenetic relationships between Pionus taxa. Performed phylogenetic analyses showed seven monophyletic clades including at least two sequences assigned to one species. However, not all subspecies sequences were monophyletic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently resurrectedPsittacaragenus is one of the 19 recognized in parrot tribeArini. The status of taxa withinPsittacararemains controversial because some forms are treated as species or subspecies depending on authorities. Evolutionary history ofPsittacarais also unclear because related phylogenetic clades contain taxa from distant and non-overlapping regions. However, the basal placement ofPsittacara leucophthalmuswith wide South American distribution suggests that other taxa with restricted range could emerge by a local split of larger population. We sequencedP. leucophthalmusmitogenome to increase the set of sequences required to determine taxonomic level and phylogeny ofPsittacarataxa. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Ariniwith 19 genera is the most diversified tribe of the neotropical parrots fromArinaesubfamily. So far, among this tribe, the genusAratingaappeared to be the most problematic for the taxonomists. The typical representative of this genus isAratinga solstitialis, whose complete mitochondrial genome were sequenced and compared with five other representatives ofArinimitogenomes. Despite the conservatism in their general organization, some changes in A + T% composition of individual genes, start/stop codon usage and intergenic regions accumulated during evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Six genera from Arini tribe form a morphologically diverse group named macaws, which differ from other Arini in the presence of bare facial area. Macaws are further distinguished by the bare face pattern, plumage colouration and body size. Six of the eight macaw species from Ara genus can be easily segregated into three pairs according to their colouration. An exception is Ara severus, which differs from others in their size and morphology. The lack of appropriate molecular markers precludes determination of its phylogenetic position. Therefore, the mitogenome of Ara severus presented in this report will be indispensable to refine these phylogenetic relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arini tribe with 19 genera is the most diversified tribe of neotropical parrots. Six of them are classified as macaws and nine as conures. The presence of bare facial area distinguishes macaws from conures and other members of this tribe. However, such morphological division seems to be disputable as the smallest macaw (monotypic Diopsittaca genus) turned out to be more closely related to three monotypic conures genera (Guaruba, Leptosittaca, Thectocercus) than to other macaws. We sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of Guaruba guarouba to enrich the resource of molecular markers for examination of phylogenetic relationships between macaws and conures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Androglossiniis one of four tribes recognized within a neotropical parrot subfamilyArinae. The tribe includes 10 genera of whichPionusis represented by eight species. However, its evolutionary diversification and relationship with otherAndroglossinimembers are still unclear. Depending on studied molecular markers,Pionusis closely related withAmazonagenus or two monotypic generaAlipiopsittaandGraydidascalusor the clade in whichAmazonagenus is sister toAlipiopsittaandGraydidascalus. Therefore, we sequencedPionus menstruus menstruusmitogenome to gain molecular data appropriate for future studies to resolve these discrepancies obtained in various phylogenetic analyses published so far. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]