The Relationships of the Charrs Salvelinus sp. 4 (Salmoniformes: Salmonidae) from Lake Nachikinskoe, Kamchatka, as Inferred from Complete Mitochondrial Genome Analysis

We have performed a comparative analysis of complete mitochondrial genomes variability of the endemic charr Salvelinus sp. 4 from Lake Nachikinskoe (Kamchatka, Russia) and closely related charrs of Asia and North America. Results of the phylogenetic analysis of their complete mitochondrial genomes confirm the close relationships between Salvelinus sp. 4 and S. alpinus erythrinus from North America (NWT) and indicate that these taxa represent the Arctic phylogenetic group of the Taranetz charr, Salvelinus taranetzi . New evidence has been obtained that the population of Salvelinus sp. 4 from Lake Nachikinskoe is an isolated population of S. taranetzi . Assuming the common origin of Salvelinus sp. 4 and S. a. erythrinus from geographically isolated populations, we have estimated the divergence of complete mitochondrial genomes that emerged due to the fragmentation of their common ancestor’s range.