The complete mitochondrial genome for Stanley's slug snake Pareas stanleyi (Serpentes: Pareidae) by next-generation sequencing.

The complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) for Pareas stanleyi was determined in this study. The length of complete mtDNA was 18,932 bp, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) (COI-III, ND1-6, ND4L, ATP6, ATP8 and CYTB), 23 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, a L-chain replication-initiating non-coding region (NCR) and 2 control regions. The overall base composition of the sequence is 24.76% of T, 29.20% of C, 30.87% of A, and 15.16% of G, with a total A + T content of 55.63%. The phylogenetic tree showed that P. stanleyi had a close relationship with the other two species (P. boulengeri and P. formosensis) from the genus Pareas.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the Red Keelback (Pseudagkistrodon rudis Boulenger, 1906).

The Red Keelback (Pseudagkistrodon rudis Boulenger, 1906) is widely distributed in the southern of China. The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of P. rudis was determined for the first time by using next-generation sequencing. The size of assembled mitogenome for P. rudis was 19,150 bp, which included 13 protein coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs and two control regions (d-loop1 and d-loop2). The Bayesian tree showed that P. rudis and Rhabdophis tigrinus have a closed relationship. These results can provide data for phylogeny and molecular classification of the genus.

The first complete mitochondrial DNA of the Chinese short-limbed skink (Ateuchosaurus chinensis Gray, 1845) determined by next-generation sequencing.

The complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) for the Chinese short-limbed skink (Ateuchosaurus chinensis Gray, 1845) was described by using next-generation sequencing. The total length of mtDNA was 16,840 bp, which contained 13 PCGs (COI-III, ND1-6, ND4L, ATP6, ATP8, and CYTB), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and a control region (D-loop). The Bayesian inference tree showed that A. chinensis was a sister taxon to other scincid lizards in genera of Scincella, Isopachys, Sphenomorphus and Tropidophorus. The complete mtDNA of A. chinensis will be an important genetic resource to the studies of conservation and restoration of A. chinensis.

Advertisement calls of the lesser spiny frog Quasipaa exilispinosa (Liu and Hu, 1975) (Anura: Dicroglossidae).

There are currently only eleven species of Quasipaa (Anura: Dicroglossidae) distributed in southern and southwestern China to central Vietnam, southeastern Thailand, and southwestern Cambodia and presumably also in Laos (Frost 2020). Eight species of Quasipaa are currently known in China: Q. boulengeri (Günther 1889), Q. courtoisi (Angel 1922), Q. exilispinosa (Liu Hu 1975), Q. jiulongensis (Huang Liu 1985), Q. shini (Ahl 1930), Q. spinosa (David 1875), Q. yei (Chen, Qu, and Jiang 2002), and Q. verrucospinosa (Bourret 1937). The first seven species are endemic to China (AmphibiaChina 2020). These species have similar morphological traits and are capable of introgressive hybridization between the closely related species of this genus(Zhang et al. 2018). Despite the detailed acoustic analysis that is available to identify a variety of species and is beneficial to the study of anuran taxonomy (e.g., Microhyla species; Chen et al. 2020), advertisement calls have only been reported in detail for Q. spinosa (Yu Zheng 2009; Chen et al. 2012; Shen et al. 2015) and Q. shini (Kong et al. 2016), whereas the call for Q. exilispinosa was briefly described from observations in captivity (Voitel 2000).

Two complete mitochondrial genomes of the black-spotted stout newt (Pachytriton brevipes) and their relative phylogenetics relationship with other Salamandridae.

The black-spotted stout newt (Pachytriton brevipes) is widely distributed in the mountains of southeastern China. In this study, we sequenced and determined the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenomes) of two P. brevipes samples collected in Mount Wuyi. The assembled mitogenomes were 16,298 bp and 16,301 bp in length, and contained 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, one non-coding region, and one control region. The phylogenetic analysis indicated the two samples of black-spotted stout newt grouped together and are the sister group of P. feii.

The complete mitochondrial genome of an Asian warty newt, Paramesotriton aurantius (Caudata: Salamandridae).

Paramesotriton aurantius (Caudata: Salamandridae) is a new species that found in southeastern China. Its complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequence was 16,313 bp in length with with A + T contents of 60.9%, and contained 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, one control region (D-loop), and one non-coding region. Our molecular tree showed that P. aurantius was positioned near P. hongkongensis, and formed a clade with other Paramesotriton species. The first complete mitogenome sequence of P. aurantius could provided fundamental data for resolving phylogenetic and genetic problems related to genus Paramesotriton.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the Bingzhi's stout newt (Pachytriton granulosus Chang, 1933) and its phylogenetic placement.

The Bingzhi's stout newt (Pachytriton granulosus Chang, 1933) is distributed in mountainous areas of Zhejiang, China. The first complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of P. granulosus was determined by next-generation sequencing. The size of the assembled mitogenome for P. granulosus was 16,293 bp, which included 13 protein coding genes, 22 tRNAs, 2 rRNAs, a non-coding region, and a control region (D-loop). The phylogenetic analysis using Bayesian Inference validated the taxonomic status of P. granulosus, showing the close relationship with the other two species from the genus Pachytriton.

The complete mitochondrial DNA for the Fujian Bamboo-leaf Frog Odorrana exiliversabilis (Anura: Ranidae) by next-generation sequencing.

The complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) for Odorrana exiliversabilisLi, Ye and Fei 2001 (Anura: Ranidae) was determined in this study. The length of complete mtDNA was 17,122 bp, including 13 PCGs (COI-III, ND1-6, ND4L, ATP6, ATP8 and CYTB), 25 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, 2 non-coding regions of a L-strand replication origin and a control region. The overall base composition of the sequence is 28.27% T, 28.27% C, 28.52% A, and 14.94% G, with a total A + T content of 56.79%. The phylogenetic tree showed that O. exiliversabilis was the sister species of O. tormota, and formed a monophyletic clade with other Odorrana species. These data provide a powerful tool for evolutionary biology and population genetics of genus Odorrana.

Next-generation sequencing yields the complete mitochondrial genome of Microhyla beilunensis (Anura: Microhylidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) of Microhyla beilunensis (Anura: Microhylidae) was sequenced and annotated. The length of mtDNA sequences of M. beilunensis was 16,721 bp, and encoded 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and a control region. The overall nucleotide composition of this genome was 29.1% A, 24.5% C, 14.5% G, 31.9% T, with a total A + T content of 61%. Phylogenetic analysis using Bayesian Inference (BI) method revealed that M. beilunensis was closely related with other 8 species from the genus Microhyla. The mtDNA dataset could be utilized for studying the molecular ecology and population genetics of Microhylid frogs.