Complete mitochondrial genome and the phylogenetic position of the Lake Eyre hardyhead (Craterocephalus eyresii), a freshwater atherinid fish endemic to Lake Eyre Basin, South Australia

Abstract

The Lake Eyre hardyhead (Craterocephalus eyresii) is an endemic freshwater fish living in the Lake Eyre basin in South Australia. Here, I report the full mitogenome description and the phylogenetic position of this species based on the mitogenome phylogenetics. The mitogenome is 16,602 bp-long with the standard 37 genes all included, with a genomic structure typical of a vertebrate mitogenome. A maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis to confirm this species position was conducted, using a data set including publicly available 28 atherinomorphs, nine percomorphs, and two outgroups. The result confirms C. eyresii position's in Atherinoidei. The complete mitogenome data of C. eyresii reported here would be useful for further genetics, phylogeography, and phylogenetics studies involving this species.

Keywords:

• Atheriniformes
• mitogenome
• percomorph teleosts
• Lake Eyre hardyhead
• South Australia endemic species

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Dianne Bray (Museums Victoria, Melbourne) for arranging sample loan and tissue sample gift, and to Nagisa Nakaji and Satoko Nakashima (National Institute of Technology, Wakayama College) for their assistance on data-set building. The manuscript has been checked by a professional science and engineering English language, native-speaking editor.

Disclosure statement

The author declares that there is no conflict of interest. The author alone is responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Funding

This study was partially supported by the National Institute of Technology, Wakayama College Competitive Internal Research Grant for Education 2015 and 2016.