Complete mitochondrial genomes and phylogenetic relationships of the genera Nephila and Trichonephila (Araneae, Araneoidea)

Spiders of the genera <i>Nephila</i> and <i>Trichonephila</i>are large orb-weaving spiders. In view of the lack of study on the mitogenome of these genera, and the conflicting systematic status, we sequenced (by next generation sequencing) and annotated the complete mitogenomes of <i>N. pilipes</i>, <i>T. antipodiana</i> and <i>T. vitiana</i> (previously <i>N. vitiana</i) to determine their features and phylogenetic relationship. Most of the tRNAs have aberrant clover-leaf secondary structure. Based on 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) and 15 mitochondrial genes (13 PCGs and two rRNA genes), <i>Nephila</i> and <i>Trichonephila</i> form a clade distinctly separated from the other araneid subfamilies/genera. <i>T. antipodiana</i> forms a lineage with <i>T. vitiana</i> in the subclade containing also <i>T. clavata</i>, while <i>N. pilipes</i> forms a sister clade to <i>Trichonephila</i>. The taxon<jats:italic>vitiana</jats:italic>is therefore a member of the genus <i>Trichonephila</i> and not <i>Nephila</i> as currently recognized. Studies on the mitogenomes of other <i>Nephila</i> and <i>Trichonephila</i> species and related taxa are needed to provide a potentially more robust phylogeny and systematics.