The complete mitochondrial genome of Parnassius cephalus (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae: Parnassinae)

The complete mitochondrial genome of Parnassius cephalus is 15,343 bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and a noncoding AT-rich region. All the 13 PCGs are initiated with the codon ATN, except for COI gene which starts with codon CGA. Eleven PCGs stop with the termination codon TAN, while the COI and COII genes end with single nucleotide T. All the tRNA genes have the typical secondary clover-leaf structures except tRNA^{Ser (AGN)}, which loses its DHU stem. The two rRNA genes (lrRNA and srRNA) are 1341 bp and 777 bp in length, with their AT contents being 83.75% and 85.33%, respectively. The AT-rich region is 487 bp in length, and contains some conservative structures similar to other butterfly mitogenomes, such as a 17 bp poly-T stretch preceded by the ATAGA motif, and a microsatellite-like (AT)₁₀ element preceded by the ATTTA motif.