Complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic position of the Levanidov's charr Salvelinus levanidovi Chereshnev, Skopetz et Gudkov, 1989 (Salmoniformes, Salmonidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome was sequenced in Levanidov's charrSalvelinus levanidovi. The genome sequences are 16,624 bp, and the gene arrangement, composition, and size are similar to the charr genomes. The level of divergence betweenS. levanidoviand charr belonging to the genusSalvelinuswas in the range from 4.80% to 3.65%. Molecular phylogeny provides new evidence thatS. levanidoviis closely related to the common ancestor of the genusSalvelinus. The present study confirms thatS. fontinalis, S. levanidovi, S. leucomaensis, andS. namaycusform a basal group of taxa, each of them belongs to an independent evolutionary line.