Description of the first species of Scutigerella (Symphyla, Scutigerellidae) from China, with mitogenomic and genetic divergence analysis

Abstract

Scutigerella sinensis Jin & Bu, sp. nov. from China is described and illustrated. It is characterized by a deeply emarginated posterior margin of tergite 2, less differentiated marginal setae on all tergites, absence of seta a3 around the antennal base, and 6–8 setae on the first tergite. The complete mitochondrial genome of the new species is also analyzed and compared with the mitogenome of Scutigerella causeyae. In the reconstructed Neighbor-Joining tree based on COI gene sequences, S. sinensis sp. nov. clusters with S. causeyae, however, with big distances. The genetic divergence among S. sinensis sp. nov. and congeners, species of Hanseniella and Scutigerella, and both families of Symphyla was analyzed using COI gene sequences.