A comparison of mitochondrial genomes of three species of the amphipod Pseudoniphargus revealed the occurrence of a surprisingly high level of gene rearrangement involving protein-coding genes that is a rare phenomenon at low taxonomic levels. The three Pseudoniphargus mitogenomes also display a unique gene arrangement with respect to either the presumed Pancrustacean order or those known for other amphipods. Relative long non-coding sequences appear adjacent to the putative breakage points involved in gene rearrangements of protein coding genes. Other details of the newly obtained mitochondrial genomes - e.g., gene content, nucleotide composition and codon usage - are similar to those found in the mitogenomes of other amphipod species studied. They all contain the typical mitochondrial genome set consisting of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, and two rRNAS, as well as a large control region. The secondary structures and characteristics of tRNA and ribosomal mitochondrial genes of these three species are also discussed.
We review the Psychodinae of Mallorca, recognising fifteen species based on recent collections and available literature. Previously unpublished data is presented for eleven species, of which Neoarisemus
ibericus Wagner, 1978, Mormia
tenebricosa (Vaillant, 1954), Clogmia
albipunctata (Williston, 1893), Lepiseodina
rothschildi (Eaton, 1913), Paramormia
ustulata (Walker, 1856), Philosepedon
pyrenaicus Vaillant, 1974 and Psychoda (Psycha) grisescens Tonnoir, 1922 are first records for Mallorca. An old record of Pericoma
trifasciata (Meigen, 1804) is considered doubtful. Pericoma
unipennata
sp. n is described and illustrated based on a male collected at Deía. Distributional data are reviewed for all newly recorded species. Based on the Psychodinae fauna, the zoogeographical affinities of Mallorca are briefly discussed.
Two new species of subterranean water amphipod crustaceans of the genus Pseudoniphargus (Pseudoniphargidae) are described from gypsum caves of Andalusia, southern Spain. Both species share the extreme elongation of the male third uropod, a striking feature frequently reported in the genus and that seems to have arisen independently in several lineages. These findings raise the number of species of Pseudoniphargus known from the area to 17.
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