The complete mitogenome of Chinese Mole Shrew, Anourosorex squamipes (Soricidae)

Infestation of chigger mites on Chinese mole shrew, Anourosorex squamipes, in Southwest China and ecological analysis

The Chinese mole shrew, Anourosorex squamipes Milne-Edwards, 1872, is a common species of insectivorous mammal in Southwest China. Based on field investigations between 2001 and 2019, the present study reports the infestation of chiggers (larvae of chigger mites) on the shrew in Southwest China and certain ecology parameters for the first time. A total of 3169 chiggers were collected from 1694 A. squamipes and they were identified into 72 species and 10 genera in the family Trombiculidae. The overall infestation prevalence (P_m), mean abundance (MA) and mean intensity (MI) of A. squamipes with chiggers reached 11.1%, 1.87 and 16.86, respectively. The species diversity, species composition and infestation of chiggers on A. squamipes fluctuated in different environments (latitudes, altitudes, habitats and landscapes) and on different sexes and ages of the shrew hosts with high heterogeneity and low species similarity. In the established linear regression equation (M* = 0.173 + 1.054 M) for dominant mite Leptotrombidium densipunctatum, both the α and β values (α = 0.173, β = 1.054) exceeded the boundary values (F = 4.67, p < 0.05), and therefore the spatial distribution pattern of this mite was determined as an aggregated distribution among different individuals of shrew hosts. The species abundance distribution of the chigger community on A. squamipes conformed to the lognormal distribution, and its curve showed a gradually descending tendency from the rare mite species to the dominant mite species. The curve tendency of species-sample relationship implies that more species of chiggers would be found if the host samples infinitely keep increasing.

The complete mitogenome of lesser striped shrew Sorex bedfordiae (soricidae)

The Sorex genus is type genus in Soricidae. Most of them lack comprehensive biological data. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Sorex bedfordiae was determined. The mitogenome is 17 160 base pairs in length and contains 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and one control region. The nucleotide sequence data of 12 heavy-strand protein-coding genes of Sorex bedfordiae and other 10 species in Soricidae were used for phylogenetic analyses. Tree constructed using Bayesian phylogenetic methods demonstrated Sorex bedfordiae as a sister to Sorex cylindricauda. Phylogenetic analyses further confirmed that Blarinella diverged prior to Sorex and Anourosorex, but Episoriculus differentiated earlier than Neomys and Nectogale within subfamily Soricinae.

The complete mitogenome of Asian Gray Shrews, Crocidura attenuata (Soricidae)

The Asian Gray Shrews, Crocidura attenuate, belongs to the family Soricidae. This widespread Asian species ranges from India and perhaps Pakistan in the west of its range, through much of eastern China and mainland Southeast Asia. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Crocidura attenuata was determined. The mitogenome is 17,534 base pairs in length and contains 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and one control region, with a base composition of 32.8% A, 31.8% T, 22.4% C and 13.0% G. The present study contributes to illuminating taxonomic status of Crocidura attenuata, and may facilitate further investigation of the molecular evolution of Soricidae.

The complete mitogenome of Hodgson's Red-Toothed Shrew, Episoriculus caudatus (Soricidae)

The Hodgson's Red-Toothed Shrew, Episoriculus caudatus belongs to the family Soricidae, and is widely distributed in northern South Asia, central and southern China and present in parts of northern Southeast Asia. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Episoriculus caudatus was determined. The mitogenome was 17,129 base pairs in length and contains 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and 1 control region, with a base composition of 33.1% A, 29.2% T, 24.7% C, and 13.0% G. The genome organization, nucleotide composition and codon usage did not differ significantly from those of other shrews. The study contributes to illuminating taxonomic status of Hodgson's Red-Toothed Shrew, Episoriculus caudatus.

The complete mitogenome of Asian House Shrews, Suncus murinus (Soricidae)

The Asian House Shrew, Suncus murinus belongs to the family Soricidae, and widely distributes in East, Southeast and South Asia, Southwest Island in the Pacific Ocean and East Africa. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Suncus murinus was determined. The mitogenome is 17,240 bp in length and contains 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and a control region, with a base composition of 33.0% A, 32.7% T, 21.2% C and 13.1% G. The present study contributes to illuminating taxonomic status of S. murinus, and may facilitate further investigation of the molecular evolution of Soricidae.