Complete mitochondrial genome of the Salvelinus malma sp. (Salmoniformes, Salmonidae) with phylogenetic consideration

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Chinese native Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma sp.) was sequenced. It was 16,652-nucleotide in length and consisted of 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and 2 non-coding regions (L-strand replication origin and control region), showing conserved gene arrangement with most vertebrates. The phylogenetic analysis based on Cytb genes of Chinese native as well as four other Dolly Varden subspecies showed that Chinese native S. malma sp. had close relationships with S. curilus (formerly named as S. malma krascheninnikova) and S. malma miyabe. This result did not support the monophyletic relationship of Dolly Varden chars. Further studies are needed to determine the phylogenetic position of Chinese native Dolly Varden.