Sequence and analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome of the Saxaul Sparrow, Passer ammodendri (Passeriformes, Passeridae).

The complete mitochondrial genome of the Saxaul Sparrow (Passer ammodendri) was 16 782 bp in length. The Genbank accession number was KT895996. And the content of A, T, C, and G were 30.08% (5048 bp), 22.91% (3845 bp), 32.08% (5384 bp), and 14.93% (2505 bp), respectively. It contained 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, 1 control region and was similar to most of the other Passeridae birds in gene arrangement and composition. All protein-coding genes used the typical initiation codon ATG, except GTG for COI and ATA for ND3 which was the same to the Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) but different from the House Sparrow (Passer domestic). Most of the stop codons were consistent with the Tree Sparrow and the House Sparrow except for ND1, ND3, and ND6 genes, which were terminated with AGG, TAA, and TAG codons, respectively. Besides, the phylogenetic relationship of Passeriformes based on complete mitochondrial genomes showed that the genetic distance among Passeridae, Emberizidae, and Fringillidae was closer than the others.