Characterization and comparison of the complete mitochondrial genomes of two stingrays, Dasyatis pastinaca and Dasyatis tortonesei (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae) from the Mediterranean Sea.

This work represents the complete mitochondrial genomes of two stingrays, Dasyatis pastinaca and Dasyatis tortonesei, from the Mediterranean Sea. The mitogenomes of these two species were obtained through whole generation sequencing and annotated. These mitogenomes were found to be 17,713 bp and 17,630 bp respectively and each contained 37 genes, that is 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes and two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, a control region and the origin of L-strand replication (O). All PCGs begin with the codon ATG, except for cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COX1) gene, while two PCGs end with an incomplete termination codon. All tRNA genes are able to fold into their typical cloverleaf secondary structures, except for tRNA-Ser1 which lacks the dihydrouracil arm. The control region was 1982 bp and 1889 bp for D. pastinaca and D. tortonesei respectively. Phylogenetic analysis using Bayesian Inference confirmed the occurrence of the genus Dasyatis within the monophyletic subfamily Dasyatinae. This study adds on genetic resources available for these two stingray species.