The brown spider Loxosceles similis (Araneae: Sicariidae): complete mitochondrial genome sequence

Abstract

The Brazilian brown spider Loxosceles similis (Moenkhaus, 1898) is, like others from the same genus, an arachnid that can cause serious accidents, which is called loxoscelism. Here, we present the complete mitochondrial genome sequence (mtDNA) of L. similis. The whole DNA molecule is 14,683 bp long, contains 13 protein-coding genes, two rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and a non-coding Control Region (D-loop) of 851 bp. The majority of the protein-coding genes (PCGs) were found on the heavy strain, with the exception of the genes ND1, ND4, ND4L, and ND5. Six different start codons were found. Seven of the PCGs contained a TAG termination codon, and one (ND4) contained an incomplete ‘T–‘ stop codon.