Prior to this study, knowledge on the evolutionary lineage of Garra remained inadequate, as previous phylogenetic investigations were primarily based on partial gene sequences. Although several mitogenomes of Garra species have been reported, their structural organization and comprehensive genomic characteristics have not been thoroughly evaluated. In this study, Garra manipurensis, endemic to the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, was identified based on its detailed morphology and meristic counts. The circular mitogenome of G. manipurensis is 16,776 bp in length and contains the canonical set of 37 genes, along with duplicated control regions separated by tRNA-Proline. The comparative assessments across Garra species indicate predominantly conserved GTG start codons, occasional alternative ATA initiation codons, and incomplete stop codons. The selection pressure examinations within Garrini taxa reveal a purifying selection across all protein-coding genes. The control region comprises four conserved sequence blocks and species-specific tandem repeats, reflecting a balance between functional constraint and lineage-dependent evolutionary dynamics. The phylogenetic inference supports the monophyly of Garra and places G. manipurensis in close affinity with Garra flavatra, which is native to the western slope of Rakhine Yoma in Myanmar and Mizoram State in northeastern India. The genetic diversity analyses revealed haplotype differentiation, with shallow intraspecific genetic distances (0.000–0.011) observed samples between two distinct drainage systems in Manipur and Mizoram, northeastern India. The observed pattern of haplotype divergence in G. manipurensis may reflect the historical or seasonal hydrological connectivity among the western-slope drainages of the Chin Hills, with the subsequent geographic isolation potentially contributing to the emergence of distinct genetic lineages. Nevertheless, the extent and evolutionary significance of this differentiation remain uncertain and warrant further investigation through expanded geographic sampling and the incorporation of additional molecular data. Collectively, these findings provide in-depth insights into the mitogenomic architecture, comparative gene arrangements, phylogenetic patterns, and matrilineal evolutionary history of G. manipurensis and other congeners, thereby improving our understanding of the systematics and genetic diversity of this important cyprinid fish lineage.

Owls (order Strigiformes) represent a highly specialized lineage of nocturnal raptors, within which the genus Strix (family Strigidae) comprises several widely distributed species despite the limited availability of comprehensive mitogenomic data. In this study, the complete mitogenome of the Mottled Wood-owl, Strix ocellata (Lesson, 1839), was characterized to investigate its genomic organization, structural features, and patterns of gene rearrangement. Furthermore, the phylogenetic position of S. ocellata was evaluated within the broader lineage of Strigiformes using concatenated mitochondrial protein-coding genes (PCGs), and among congeners using partial COI and Cytb genes. The circular mitogenome of S. ocellata was 19,135 bp in length and comprised the typical vertebrate mitochondrial complement of 13 PCGs, 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and two non-coding control regions (CRs). The selective pressure analyses revealed strong purifying selection acting across all PCGs, whereas codon usage analysis demonstrated biased synonymous codon preferences, with arginine, leucine, and serine representing the most abundant amino acids. The CR retained the three characteristic conserved domains, while variation in tandem repeat motifs suggested evolutionary divergence among the examined taxa. The phylogenetic inference based on complete mitogenome datasets strongly supported the monophyly of the genus Strix . Notably, S. ocellata occupied a putatively basal position relative to other Strix species based on both complete mitogenomes and partial mitochondrial markers. The comparative examination of mitochondrial gene arrangements revealed a largely conserved genomic architecture across Strigiformes, with observed transposition and duplication events involving ND6, Cytb, several tRNA genes, and the CRs. Collectively, this study provides the first mitogenomic characterization of S. ocellata as well as evolutionary relationships within Strix and the broader Strigiformes lineage. Nevertheless, these findings underscore the need for additional complete mitogenome sequences and whole-genome datasets from broader taxonomic and geographic sampling. Such expanded genomic resources will improve phylogenetic resolution and facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary history and diversification of this owl lineage.