The complete mitochondrial genome of three mustelid species, stoats (Mustela erminea), weasels (Mustela nivalis) and ferrets (Mustela furo), and the New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) were sequenced using direct mitochondrial DNA extraction and overlapping long PCRs. The usual 37 mammalian mitochondrial genes (13 protein coding genes, 22 t-RNA and 2 r-RNA) were identified in all four mitogenomes. The divergence of stoats from other members of the sub-family Mustelinae was dated 4.5 million years ago. The mitogenomic data were consistent with a bear-like origin of seals.
Keywords: Bayesian; divergence; mitochondrial DNA; mustela ermiea; pinnipeds.