Abstract
Stomatopoda, commonly known as mantis shrimps, are notable for their enlarged second maxillipeds encompassing the raptorial claw. The form of the claw can be used to divide them into two basic groups: smashers and spearers. Previous phylogenetic studies of Stomatopoda have focused on morphology or a few genes, though there have been whole mitochondrial genomes published for 15 members of Stomatopoda. However, the sampling has been somewhat limited with key taxa not included. Here, nine additional stomatopod mitochondrial genomes were generated and combined with the other available mitogenomes for a phylogenetic analysis. We used the 13 protein coding genes, as well as 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA genes, and included nuclear 18S rRNA gene sequences. Different rooting options were used for the analyses: (1) single and multiple outgroups from various eumalocostracan relatives and (2) a stomatopod-only dataset, with Hemisquilla californiensis used to root the topologies, based on the current hypothesis that Hemisquilla is the sister group to the rest of Stomatopoda. The eumalocostracan-rooted analyses all showed H. californiensis nested within Stomatopoda, raising doubts as to previous hypotheses as to its placement. Allowing for the rooting difference, the H. californiensis outgroup datasets had the same tree topology as the eumalocostracan outgroup datasets with slight variation at poorly supported nodes. Of the major taxonomic groupings sampled to date, Squilloidea was generally found to be monophyletic while Gonodactyloidea was not. The position of H. californiensis was found inside its superfamily, Gonodactyloidea, and grouped in a weakly supported clade containing Odontodactylus havanensis and Lysiosquillina maculata for the eumalocostracan-rooted datasets. An ancestral state reconstruction was performed on the raptorial claw form and provides support that spearing is the ancestral state for extant Stomatopoda, with smashing evolving subsequently one or more times.
Highlights
Mantis shrimps (Stomatopoda Latreille, 1817) [1] are marine crustaceans well known for their feeding mechanism and complex eyes
An ancestral state reconstruction was performed on the raptorial claw form and provides support that spearing is the ancestral state for extant Stomatopoda, with smashing evolving subsequently one or more times
The newly sequenced mitogenomes ranged in total length from 15,678 base pairs (AlThe newly sequenced mitogenomes ranged in total length from 15,678 base pairs ima pacifica) to 16,342 base pairs (Neogonodactylus bredini)
Summary
Mantis shrimps (Stomatopoda Latreille, 1817) [1] are marine crustaceans well known for their feeding mechanism and complex eyes. Stomatopods construct or occupy burrows and mainly occur in tropical and subtropical regions [2] These marine carnivores capture prey by spearing or smashing depending on their distinctive second maxilliped appendages, the raptorial claws [3] (Figure 1). Smashers strike with the heel of the dactyl (calcified tip of the claw shaped like a club) after energy is loaded in a saddle spring mechanism [4] This allows the claw to strike hard-shelled prey. Spearers are ambush predators with elongated serrated raptorial claws enhanced for soft-bodied prey [5] In addition to their claws, mantis shrimps are of research interest for their complex visual system due to their compound eyes with around 12–16 photoreceptors, capable of seeing ultraviolet, linear, and circular polarized light [6,7]. Stomatopods have many important roles including used as food, as bioindicators of pollution, and their role as predators in marine ecosystems [8,9,10,11,12,13]
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