Complete mitochondrial genome of the endemic legless lizard Anguis cephallonica Werner, 1894 and its comparison with mitogenome of Anguis fragilis Linnaeus, 1758

Mitochondrial DNA B Resour. 2016 Feb 1;1(1):83-85. doi: 10.1080/23802359.2015.1137834.

Abstract

Complete mitochondrial genome of the Peloponnese endemic lizard species Anguis cephallonica is presented in this study. The complete sequence is 17 208 bp long and consists of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes and one control region. The gene order is same as in the relative species Anguis fragilis. Length of the 22 tRNA genes varies from 64 bp to 73 bp. The Anguis cephallonica mitogenome base composition is: A (30.5%), T (24.2%), C (30.5%), G (14.8%), with an A + T bias (54.7%). Six protein coding genes have incomplete stop codons. This is the first complete mitogenome described in this species as well as in any endemic Peloponnese lizard. Presented complete mitochondrial genome will form a basis for future comparative analysis within the genus Anguis.

Keywords: Anguis cephallonica; Balkan Peninsula; legless lizards; mitogenome; mtDNA.