Complete mitochondrial genome of the Antarctic icefish, Chaenocephalus aceratus (Perciforms, Channichthyidae)

Abstract

The complete sequence of the mitochondrial genome of the Antarctic icefish Chaenocephalus aceratus was determined to be 17311 bp in length, and to contain 13 protein coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes and 2 rRNA genes. The total A þ T content is 52.8%. The notothenioidexclusive ND6/tRNAGlu translocation was observed in the mitogenome of C. aceratus. Generally, the order and contents of the other genes are identical with those of other fishes. Antarctic icefishes, the only vertebrates which do not have hemoglobins, have evolved to survive subfreezing temperature. Therefore, the whole mitogenome sequences of C. aceratus will provide the insights into resolving the evolutionary history of icefish.