Complete mitochondrial genome of the giant triton snail Charonia tritonis (Tonnoidea: Charoniidae)

Abstract

The giant triton snail, Charonia tritonis (Linnaeus, 1758), crucial for coral reef ecosystems as a primary predator of the crown-of-thorns sea star, is experiencing a significant decline due to overfishing for its ornamental shell, underscoring the urgent need for conservation and deeper understanding of its role within marine biodiversity. This study presents the first complete mitogenome sequence of C. tritonis. Spanning 15,346 bp, the C. tritonis mitogenome comprises 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, and two rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis of 88 Littorinimorpha mitogenomes confirms C. tritonis and C. lampas are grouped together within the family Charoniidae as a sister group to the remaining Tonnoidea families. This research not only enhances the taxonomic classification and conservation efforts for marine gastropods but also serves as a vital reference for future evolutionary and genetic studies within the Caenogastropoda.

Keywords

• Tonnoidea
• Charonia tritonis
• mitochondrial genome
• phylogenetic analyses