Complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Eurasian blackbird, Turdus merula (Aves: Turdidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequence of Eurasian blackbird,Turdus merulawas determined by shotgun sequencing. The total length of mitogenome is 16 730 bp, and contains 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 ribosome RNA genes and 1 control region (D-loop). All the protein-coding genes inT. merulawere distributed on the H-strand, except for the ND6 subunit gene and eight tRNA genes which were encoded on the L-strand. The gene order and contents in theT. merulamitogenome is identical to that found in typical vertebrates. The phylogenetic tree ofT. merulaand 13 other species belonging to order Passeriformes was built. The DNA data presented here will be useful to study the evolutionary relationships and genetic diversity ofT. merula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]