Mitogenomic Insights into Spilopelia chinensis Species Complex: A Comparative Study of Mitogenomes from India and China

The Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis), a member of the Columbidae family, is widely distributed across the Indian subcontinent, eastern and central China, and Southeast Asia. Notable variations in plumage, morphology and vocalization observed within natural populations of Spilopelia chinensis, have led to the recognition of four major sub-species: S. c. suratensis, S. c. ceylonensis, S. c. chinensis, and S. c. tigrina, with varied geographic distribution. However, the lack of comprehensive genetic data from various regions and absence of detailed phylogeographic study have impeded thorough understanding of S. chinensis species complex. We sequenced and characterized the complete mitogenome of S. chinensis from India for the first time and compared it with existing mitogenomes from China. Our comparative mitogenomic analysis revealed a sequence similarity of 95.5% and a genetic distance of approximately 0.05 units. These findings indicate substantial genetic distance and pronounced branching on the phylogenetic tree, suggesting they may not be truly conspecific sub-species, but two different species. Further the study provides evidence supporting the need for a thorough investigation of the taxonomic status within the S. chinensis species complex. These findings underscore the necessity for comprehensive phylogeography and population genetic studies to clarify S. chinensis species distribution and delimitation. Additionally, the genetic data generated in this study provide a valuable resource for developing specific genetic, evolutionary, and forensic markers for S. chinensis.