The complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of the short mackerel (Rastrelliger brachysoma), and its phylogenetic position within Scombroidei, Perciformes

Abstract

In order to support studies of short mackerel population genetic structure in the Gulf of Thailand and phylogenetic relationships, the mitochondrial genome of the short mackerel, Rastrelliger brachysoma, has recently been determined by a partial cloning technique, long PCR with three pairs of newly designed primers and primer walking sequencing. The complete mitochondrial genome is 16,539 bp in length and contains 37 mitochondrial genes (13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and 22 transfer RNA genes) and a control region (CR) as in other bony fishes. Within the 845-bp CR, we identified several conserved motifs. The phylogeny obtained by Bayesian analyses based on two nucleotide datasets corresponding to the cytb and nd2 mitochondrial genes strongly support the inclusion of R. brachysoma within the monophyletic tribe of Scombrini in the family Scombridae. The obtained phylogeny also reveals high-statistical support for the existence of two distinct groups indicating that Scombroidei and Xiphioidei are two separate suborders.

Keywords::

• Short mackerel
• Scombroidei
• mitochondrial DNA
• phylogeny

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the editor, Sergios-Orestis Kolokotronis, and anonymous reviewers for their helpful suggestions and constructive comments. They are also grateful to Javiera Laneras for her valuable suggestions. They also thank R. A. Hillman and Sandro Kunz for their help in reading the manuscript. This study was supported by a grant from the Kasetsart University Research Development Institute, Bangkok, Thailand.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.