The complete mitochondrial genome of the Chinese water snake Myrrophis (Enhydris) chinensis (Gray, 1842) (Reptilia: Homalopsidae)

Myrrophis (Enhydris) chinensis, also known as the Chinese water snake, has been used for medicinal purposes, such as the treatment of ailments involving fever, headache, and joint pain. The complete mitochondrial genome of M. chinensis was assembled using next-generation sequencing. The mitochondrial genome was 17,302 bp in length and contained 37 genes, including 13 protein-coding, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA), 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and 2 non-coding control regions (D-loop). The light chain of replication origin was found between tRNA-Asn and tRNA-Cys in the WANCY gene cluster, which is consistent with published mitogenomes of Homalopsidae. The phylogenetic tree supported the monophyly of Homalopsidae species and implied that M. chinensis is the closest related species to Myanophis thanlyinensis. The mitochondrial genome of M. chinensis provides fundamental data for exploring mitochondrial genome evolution in snakes (Homalopsidae).