The complete mitochondrial genome of sea cucumber Stichopus monotuberculatus (aspidochirotida: Stichopodidae)

Abstract

The sea cucumber, Stichopus monotuberculatus, is an economically important holothuroid in China due to its larger body size and valuable nutrition. However, the taxonomic revision studies of Stichopodidae have been one of the most controversial issues in recent years. Moreover, there remain considerable doubts about a complex of cryptic species within S. monotuberculatus. In this study, we report the complete mitochondrial genome of S. monotuberculatus. The mitogenome has 16,274 base pairs (60.4% A + T content) and made up of total of 37 genes (13 protein-coding, 22 transfer RNAs and 2 ribosomal RNAs), and a putative control region. This study adds one more available complete mitogenomes of Stichopus and will provide useful genetic information for future evolutionary and taxonomic classification of Stichopodidae.