The complete mitogenome of Asiatic Short-tailed ShrewBlarinella quadraticauda(Soricidae)

Mitogenome of a cryptic species within Uropsilus and divergence time estimation

Uropsilus sp. 4 is a new cryptic species, collected in Changyang county, Hubei province, China. In this study, the whole mitochondrial genome of Uropsilus sp. 4 was first determined and characterized. The genome is 16,542 bp in length, containing 13 protein coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and a putative control region. Base on NJ, ML, and BI methods, we obtained the same topologies. U. sp. 4 clustered with U. gracilis and the divergence time was 1.78 Ma (95% CI 1.24-2.32 Ma), in concordance with the third period of last orogenic push of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, might contribute to the speciation of U. sp. 4.

Description of the mitogenome of Gansu mole (Scapanulus oweni)

The Gansu mole Scapanulus oweni belongs to family Talpidae, and is distributed in the Central and Southwest China. In this study, the total mitochondrial genome of S. oweni was firstly determined. The genome is 16,826 bases in length and contains 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and a displacement loop region, with a base composition of A 34.0%, G 13.5%, T 28.7% and C 23.9%. All of the protein-coding genes initiate with the orthodox ATG start codon execpt for Nd2 and Nd3 begin with ATT, Nd4 and Nd5, start with GTG and ATA, respectively. Four types of stop codons are used by the coding genes, including TAA for Nd1, Cox1, Cox2, Atp8, Atp6, Nd4L, Nd5, Nd6, TAG for Nd2, AGA for Cytb, and an incomplete stop codon T for Cox3, Nd3 and Nd4. The mito-genomic data of Gansu mole, S. oweni will be useful in determining its taxonomic status within Talpidae.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Chinese bamboo rat, Rhizomys sinensis and species divergence comparison

The Chinese bamboo rat Rhizomys sinensis belongs to family Spalacidae, and is distributed in China, Myanmar, and Vietnam. In this study, the entire mitochondrial genome of R. sinensis was firstly determined. The genome is 16,564 bases in length, containing 13 protein coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and a putative control region. The composition and arrangement of its genes are identical to most other mammals. The whole base composition of the mitogenome is A 31.9%, G 12.0%, T 31.2% and C 24.9%, with an A+T rich pattern. The species divergence between R. sinensis and R. pruinosus is 0.113, in accordance with a "10× rule", as the intraspecific barcode variation averaged 1%. The mitogenome data of R. sumatrensis is required to better understand the phylogenetic relationships within Rhizomys.