The mitochondrial genome of the oribatid mite Paraleius leontonychus. PlMito

The number of newly described mitochondrial genomes has dramatically increased in the last few years, benefitting from the advent of high-throughput sequencing methods and (freely available) user-friendly software or online tools. Despite valid criticisms on the necessity of publishing new mitogenomes, there are also cases in which the description of one further mitogenome might significantly advance our knowledge on the evolution of mitochondria within a taxonomic group or lineage. Here, we present such an example, the oribatid mite species Paraleius leontonychus. Phylogenetic analysis of the newly sequenced mitogenome and previously published data on other acariform mites reveals paraphyly of the Oribatida, but also confirms a within-Oribatida evolution of Astigmata. Moreover, it greatly contributes to our understanding of tRNA evolution in Acariformes. The total number of tRNAs and the number of tRNAs with a complete cloverleaf-like structure in P. leontonychus clearly exceeds the numbers previously reported for Sarcoptiformes, indicating - contrary to what has been previously assumed – that reduction of tRNAs is not a general characteristic for sarcoptiform mites.