The mitochondrial genomes of Enoplolambrus validus (De Haan, 1837) and Jonas distinctus (De Haan, 1835) (Decapoda: Brachyura: Parthenopoidea, Corystoidea): a novel gene rearrangement and phylogenetic implications

Abstract

Abstract A complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Enoplolambrus validus (De Haan, 1837) (Parthenopoidea) and a near complete mitochondrial genome of Jonas distinctus (De Haan, 1835) (Corystoidea) were sequenced and characterized. Their lengths are 15,431 bp and 16,152 bp, respectively. Both mitogenomes comprise 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA genes, and 22 transfer RNA genes. A novel gene rearrangement pattern with seven rearranged genes was found in the mitogenome of J. distinctus. The nucleotide compositions of the two mitogenomes are biased towards A/T. The phylogenetic relationship of Brachyura from 57 mitogenomes was reconstructed with two species of Anomura as outgroups by both Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods using sequences of 13 protein coding genes. The freshwater crabs, (Gecarcinucoidea and Potamoidea) are sister to species of Thoracotremata. Our results do not support the monophyly of Heterotremata. Enoplolambrus validus and J. distinctus are clustered with species of six other superfamilies but the phylogenetic relationships among these superfamilies are largely unresolved. Our results provide valuable resources for understanding the mitogenome evolutionary pattern and phylogenetic relationships within Brachyura.