Complete mitochondrial genome of a sea star, Linckia laevigata (Echinodermata, Asteroidea, Valvatida, Ophidiasteridae)

Abstract

We determined the complete mitochondrial genome sequences of an asteroid Linckia laevigata belonging to the order Valvatida. The complete mitogenome of L. laevigata was 16,371 bp in length and consisted of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two rRNA, and 22 tRNA. The orders of PCGs and rRNAs were identical to those of the recorded mitogenomes of asteroids. Phylogenetic analyses placed L. laevigata as the sister group to the species of the other Paxillosida.

The first complete mitochondrial genome of the Northern Pacific deep-sea goniasterid sea star Ceramaster japonicus (Sladen, 1889) determined using NGS-based shotgun sequencing

“…Linckia laevigata ’s position here differs from its position in the tree presented by Hiruta et al. ( 2020 ) which showed it as sister to two members of Paxillosida, Luidia and Astropecten . This is likely attributable to the different number of markers used in previous studies.…”

“…Furthermore, at the timing of writing, neither our tree nor that of Hiruta et al. ( 2020 ) included any members of the Velatida, the third major clade within the Asteroidea (Linchangco et al. 2017 ).…”

“…The complete mitochondrial genome of the ophidiasterid, Linckia laevigata , a species also representing the large Valvatacea cluster has recently been reported by Hiruta et al. ( 2020 ).…”

“…1 million bases, and Hiruta et al. 2020 included only the 13 protein coding genes of the mitogenomes versus our study which includes all 37 mitogenomic genes, ca. 10,911 positions.…”

“…Goniasterids are the most diverse family of asteroids, including some 256 living species within 65 genera (Mah and Blake 2012). The complete mitochondrial genome of the ophidiasterid, Linckia laevigata, a species also representing the large Valvatacea cluster has recently been reported by Hiruta et al (2020).…”