Characterization and phylogenetic analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome of the firemouth cichlid, Thorichthys meeki (Perciformes: Cichlidae).

Here, we report information on the complete mitochondrial genome of the firemouth cichlid, Thorichthys meeki (Brind 1918). Illumina HiSeq genome sequencing produced the assembly of a circular mitogenome of 16,527 base pairs (bp) from T. meeki consisting of 46.8% GC nucleotides, 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and a putative control region as shown in the typical teleost gene composition. The gene order of the T. meeki mitogenome was identical to that of other cichlid species. A maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree based on mitochondrial PCGs showed a close relationship of T. meeki with Thorichthys aureus (Gunther 1862) within Heroini tribe.