Phylogenetic relationships of the conoidean snails (Gastropoda: Caenogastropoda) based on mitochondrial genomes

Publication date: Available online 28 June 2018Source: Molecular Phylogenetics and EvolutionAuthor(s): Juan E. Uribe, Rafael Zardoya, Nicolas PuillandreAbstractWith more than 5,000 species, Conoidea is one of the most diversified superfamilies of Gastropoda. Recently, the family-level classification of these venomous predator snails has undergone substantial changes, on the basis of a phylogenetic tree reconstructed combining partial mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences, and up to 16 families are now recognized. However, phylogenetic relationships among these families remain largely unresolved. Here, we sequenced 20 complete or nearly complete mitochondrial (mt) genomes, which were combined with mt genomes available in GenBank to construct a dataset that included representatives of 80% of the known families, although for some we had only one species or genus as representative. Most of the sequenced conoidean mt genomes shared a constant genome organization, and observed rearrangements were limited exclusively to tRNA genes in a few lineages. Phylogenetic trees were reconstructed using probabilistic methods. Two main monophyletic groups, termed “Clade A” and “Clade B”, were recovered with strong support within a monophyletic Conoidea. Clade A (including families Clavatulidae, Horaiclavidae, Turridae s.s., Terebridae, Drilliidae, Pseudomelatomidae, and Cochlespiridae) was composed of four main lineages, one of which was additionally supported by a rearrangement in t...

Source: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution - July 10, 2018 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research