Sequencing and annotation of the endangered wild buffalo (Bubalus arnee) mitogenome for taxonomic and hybridization assessment

Abstract

The wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) is one of the most endangered and least studied large bovid in the Indian subcontinent. India retains 90% of the global population as two fragmented populations in Assam and Chhattisgarh, both threatened by habitat loss and degradation, hunting, disease from livestock, and hybridization with the domestic buffalos. For the first time, we sequenced the 16,357 bp long mitogenome of pure wild water buffalo from both populations. The annotated genes included 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA, two ribosomal genes, and a non-coding control region. Comparative mitogenome analyses showed both populations are genetically similar but significantly different from domestic buffalo. We also identified structural differences in seven tRNA secondary structures between both species. Both wild and domestic water buffalo formed sister clades which were paraphyletic to genus Bos. This study provides baseline information on wild buffalo mitogenome for further research on phylogeny, phylogeography and hybrid assessment and help conserving this endangered species.