The Japanese murrelet (Synthliboramphus wumizusume) is a threatened bird endemic to Japan, Korea, and Russia. We generated the complete mitochondrial genome sequence to provide molecular genetic information for phylogeny and conservation of the species. The S. wumizusume mitochondrial genome is 16 714 bp in length and comprises 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, two ribosomal RNAs, a non-coding control region, and a repeat region. Gene composition and order in the genome is consistent with that of other mitochondrial genomes of the order Charadriiformes currently available in the GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis using all available Charadriiform mitochondrial genomes revealed that interfamilial relationships of the birds based on mitochondrial genes were in agreement with those based on multilocus nuclear genes. The complete mitochondrial genome of S. wumizusume we sequenced might be a useful genetic resource for phylogenetic relationships, evolutionary biology, and conservation of the species.
Keywords: Avian mtDNA; Synthliboramphus wumizusume; mitogenome; phylogeny.