The complete mitochondrial genome of the endemic Iberian pygmy skate Neoraja iberica Stehmann, Séret, Costa, & Baro 2008 (Elasmobranchii, Rajidae)

• Published in: Mitochondrial DNA. Part B. Resources Vol. 6; no. 3; pp. 848 - 850
• Main Authors: Gomes-dos-Santos, André, Machado, André M., Aranha, Sofia Graça, Dias, Ester, Veríssimo, Ana, Castro, L. Filipe C., Froufe, Elsa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 15.03.2021; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: Batoidea; Chondrichthyes; Elasmobranchii; Genomes; Iberian Peninsula; Mitochondria; mitogenome; Mitogenome Announcement; Neoraja; Phylogenetics; Phylogeny; Rajidae; Rajiformes; rRNA; Transfer RNA; Iberian Peninsula; phylogenetics; Elasmobranchii; Chondrichthyes; mitogenome
• ISSN: 2380-2359; 2380-2359
• DOI: 10.1080/23802359.2021.1884030

Skates, Chondrichthyes fishes from order Rajiformes, are the most species-rich group of all Batoidea. However, their phylogenetic relationships and systematics is still a highly discussed and controversial subject. The use of complete mitogenome has shown to be a promising tool to fill this gap of knowledge. Here, the complete mitogenome of the Iberian pygmy skate Neoraja iberica (Stehmann, Séret, Costa & Baro 2008 ) was sequenced and assembled. The mitogenome is 16,723 bp long and its gene content (i.e. 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA, and 2 ribosomal RNA genes) and arrangement are the expected for Batoidea. Phylogenetic reconstructions, including 89 Rajiformes and two outgroup Rhinopristiformes, recovered family Rajidae as monophyletic, and further divided in the monophyletic tribe Rajini, sister to tribes Amblyrajini and Rostrorajini. The newly sequenced N. iberica mitogenome is the first representative of the tribe Rostrorajini.