Complete Mitogenome of Oreolalax omeimontis Reveals Phylogenetic Status and Novel Gene Arrangement of Archaeobatrachia

Abstract

Species of the genus Oreolalax displayed crucial morphological characteristics of vertebrates transitioning from aquatic to terrestrial habitats; thus, they can be regarded as a representative vertebrate genus for this landing phenomenon. But the present phylogenetic status of Oreolalax omeimontis has been controversial with morphological and molecular approaches, and specific gene rearrangements were discovered in all six published Oreolalax mitogenomes, which are rarely observed in Archaeobatrachia. Therefore, this study determined the complete mitogenome of O. omeimontis with the aim of identifying its precise phylogenetic position and novel gene arrangement in Archaeobatrachia. Phylogenetic analysis with Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood indicates O. omeimontis is a sister group to O. lichuanensis, which is consistent with previous phylogenetic analysis based on morphological characteristics, but contrasts with other studies using multiple gene fragments. Moreover, although the duplication of trnM occurred in all seven Oreolalax species, the translocation of trnQ and trnM occurred differently in O. omeimontis to the other six, and this unique rearrangement would happen after the speciation of O. omeimontis. In general, this study sheds new light on the phylogenetic relationships and gene rearrangements of Archaeobatrachia.