Description of the Mitochondrial Genomes of Sichuan Tetrastes sewerzowi and Phylogenetic Relationship (Galliformes: Tetraonidae)

Abstract The Tetrastes sewerzowi is a member of the Tetraonidae and is native to China. Research has mainly focused on the Gansu Province, with limited studies in other regions. To evaluate genetic differences between the Tetrastes sewerzowi in the Gansu and Sichuan, the mitochondrial genomes of the Tetrastes sewerzowi from the Wanglang Reserve in the Sichuan Province were sequenced. The total length of the newly sequenced mitochondrial genome is 16,665 base pairs (bp), which contains 37 genes and a control region with a conserved bird similarity box. Bayesian inference (BI) and maximum likelihood (ML) methods were used for phylogenetic analyses using complete mitochondrial genome data from 13 bird species in the Tetraonidae, resulting in strong topologies. This study demonstrated genetic conservation between the Tetrastes sewerzowi in Gansu and Sichuan, with the Tetrastes bonasia identified as the sister group of the Tetrastes sewerzowi, consistent with previous research and indicating a close relationship between the two bird species.