The complete mitogenome of the springtail Cryptopygus antarcticus travei provides evidence for speciation in the Sub-Antarctic region

Abstract

Cryptopygus antarcticus travei (Collembola) is a springtail endemic to the sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands. The mitogenome of C. a. travei has a length of 15,743 bp and comprises 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, and two rRNAs. The base composition is 36% adenine, 33% thymine, 13% guanine, and 18% cytosine. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the distinctness of C. a. travei from C. antarcticus, with considerable sequence divergences separating taxa within this group. In light of these results, we suggest that C. a. travei may be a candidate new species and that the current taxonomical status of this species should be re-evaluated.