The complete mitochondrial genome of Eremias dzungarica (Reptilia, Squamata, Lacertidae) from the Junggar Basin in Northwest China

The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Eremias dzungarica from the Junggar Basin in Northwest China was determined for the first time by next-generation sequencing. The total length is 19,899 bp, containing13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes and one control region. This gene arrangement is similar to the typical mtDNA of vertebrates. The 13 concatenated PCGs were used to perform Bayesian phylogenetic analyses together with several congeners as well as ten representative lacertids with mitogenome data available in GenBank. The resulting phylogenetic tree supports the monophyly of viviparous species in Eremias, with E. dzungarica being more closely related to E. przewalskii than to E. multiocellata. The mitogenome of E. dzungarica will provide fundamental data for the exploration of the mitogenome evolution in lacertids.