The complete mitogenome of the Eastern Pacific sponge Aplysina gerardogreeni (Demospongiae, Verongida, Aplysinidae)

Abstract

We report the first mitochondrial genome of a Verongid sponge, Aplysina gerardogreeni from the Pacific Ocean. This has 19,620 bp and includes 14 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNAs genes, and 25 tRNAs genes. The gene arrangement was similar to the one found in two Caribbean Aplysina mitogenomes previously reported. Comparative analyses revealed a few substitutions among congeneric mitogenomes. The mitogenome of A. gerardogreeni could be useful to study the evolution of Verongimorpha group and also to identify adequate genes for its molecular systematics.

Keywords

• porifera
• verongimorpha
• mexican pacific ocean
• mitochondria