The mitogenome of the Northern Hemisphere native terrestrial flatworm Rhynchodemus sylvaticus (Leidy, 1851) (Platyhelminthes, Geoplanidae)

Abstract

Rhynchodemus sylvaticus (Leidy, 1851) is a tiny terrestrial flatworm of the subfamily Rhynchodeminae (Platyhelminthes, Geoplanidae) generally found in Europe and North America. Its mitogenome is 16,891 bp long, contains 12 protein-coding genes, two rRNA genes and 21 tRNA genes. No tRNA-Thr was found, ND6 starts with ATT, cob is longer at its 3’ ending. Unlike the other eight species of Rhynchodeminae with sequenced mitogenomes, there is a real stop codon for ND5. Also, the position of tRNA-Met differs. Multiprotein phylogeny shows R. sylvaticus within a clade including species of the tribe Rhynchodemini from Oceania, but distinguished by a long branch.