Complete mitochondrial genome of Acropora valida (Scleractinia, Acroporidae): mitogenome characterization and phylogenetic positioning

Lack of mitochondrial genome data of Scleractinia is hampering progress across genetic, systematic, phylogenetic and evolutionary studies. In this study, the complete mitogenome sequence of the stony coral, Acropora valida (Dana, 1846), has been decoded for the first time by next-generation sequencing and genome assembly. The assembled mitogenome was 18,385 bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two transfer RNAs and two ribosomal RNAs. All genes were encoded on the same strand. The A + T content of the mitochondrial genome was 62.0% (25.0% A, 37.0% T, 24.3% G, and 13.8% for C). The complete mitogenome of Acropora valida has the same gene content and structure as other Acropora species. The complete mitogenome provides essential and important DNA molecular data for further phylogenetic and evolutionary analyses for coral phylogeny.