Phylogenetic position of the Tenrecs (Mammalia: Tenrecidae) of Madagascar based on analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Echinops telfairi

The phylogenetic position of the lesser hedgehog tenrec, Echinops telfairi, was studied on the basis of analysis of the concatenated sequences of 12 mitochondrial protein-coding genes. In addition to the tenrec, the analysis included two other representatives of the insectivore order Lipotyphla, the hedgehog and the mole. The eutherian tree was rooted with three non-eutherian mammalian taxa. The analysis joined the tenrec, the African elephant (order Proboscidea) and the aardvark (order Tubulidentata) on a common branch. The three lipotyphlan taxa, the tenrec (Tenrecidae), the mole (Talpidae) and the hedgehog (Erinaceidae) were dispersed in the eutherian tree, demonstrating lipotyphlan polyphyly.