Dichotomius (Luederwaldtinia) schiffleri (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic relationships within the superfamily Scarabaeoidea

Abstract

The mitochondrial DNA of Dichotomius (Luederwaldtinia) schiffleri was characterized and its phylogenetic position was reconstructed in Scarabaeoidea. This mitogenome presented 14,802 bp-long, richness in AT of 77.4% and 37 genes, including 13 protein-coding, 22 transfer RNAs, and two ribosomal RNAs. In addition, it was observed intergenic spacers and reading frame overlaps. The phylogenetic trees reconstructed from protein sequences provided best resolution, indicating Scarabaeinae and Aphodiinae as a sister groups, as previously reported in other molecular phylogenies.

Keywords

• mitogenome
• nucleic acid and protein phylogeny
• mtdna organization