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The evolution of body size within and among species is predicted to be influenced by multifarious environmental factors. However, the specific drivers of body size variation have remained difficult to understand because of the wide range of proximate factors that covary with ectotherm body sizes across populations with varying local environmental conditions. Here, we used female Eremias argus lizards collected from different populations across their wide range in China, and constructed linear mixed models to assess how climatic conditions and/or available resources at different altitudes shape the geographical patterns of lizard body size across altitude. Lizard populations showed significant differences in body size across altitudes. Furthermore, we found that climatic and seasonal changes along the altitudinal gradient also explained variations in body size among populations. Specifically, body size decreased with colder and drier environmental conditions at high altitudes, reversing Bergmann's rule. Limited resources at high altitudes, measured by the low vegetative index, may also constrain body size. Therefore, our study demonstrates that multifarious environmental factors could strongly influence the intraspecific variation in organisms' body size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete mitochondrial genome of the Leptobrachella alpina Fei, Ye, and Li 1990, was assembled for the first time. The mitogenome of this species was 17,763 bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes (12S rRNA and 16S rRNA), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNA), and a non-coding control region (D-loop). The base content of the mitogenome was that A, T, G, and C occupied 28.5%, 30.8%, 15.1%, and 25.6%, respectively. The phylogenetic analysis was conducted based on 17 complete mitogenome sequences of the family Megophryidae by the Bayesian inference approach. The phylogenetic tree suggested that Leptobrachium and Oreolalax clustered into a clade and formed a sister group with Leptobrachella. This work is critical for the further genetic research and conservation of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete mitochondrial genome of a stream-dwelling frog species Paramegophrys oshanensis was determined. This mitogenome was 17,747 bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and a control region (D-loop). The base composition of the light strand was 28.77% A, 29.85% T, 26.26% C, and 15.11% G. Compared with most other vertebrates, this mitogenome has some different features: a non-tandem duplication of tRNA-Met gene (forming tRNA-Met1 and tRNA-Met2 genes), the replacement of tRNA-Trp gene by a 72-bp noncoding region translocated from the cluster of WANCY to the back of Cytb gene, the translocation of tRNA-Val gene from the front of 16S rRNA to the back of tRNA-Met1 gene, and the translocation of tRNA-Pro gene from the front of D-loop region to the front of tRNA-Met2 gene. Three kinds of tandem repeats with size ranging from 71 to 92 bp were detected within D-loop region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete mitochondrial genome of theOreolalax lichuanensiswas determined. It is a circular molecule of 17 702 bp in size and consists of 13 protein-coding genes, 23 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes and a control region (D-loop). The base composition on light strand was 28.0% A, 32.2% T, 24.9% C and 14.9% G. Compared with most other vertebrates, this mitogenome appear a tandem duplication oftRNA-Metgene. This study will facilitate the further research of the population genetics of this species and systematic study of the genusOreolalax. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We determined the complete mitochondrial genome ofKaloula rugiferain this work. The mitogenome was 17,073 bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and a control region (D-loop). The base composition of the light strand was 29.7% A, 30.4% T, 25.7% C and 14.2% G. The gene order and contents of it is identical to most amphibian mitogenome. All protein-coding genes began with ATG as start codon exceptND1gene beginning with GTG andCOIgene beginning with ATA. Five protein-coding genes (COII, ATP 6, COIII, ND3andND4) ended with incomplete stop codon T. The 22 tRNA genes with the size ranging from 65 bp to 73 bp were interspersed along the whole genome. The D-loop region containing tandem repetition was 1675 bp in length and heavily biased to A + T nucleotides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]