The complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic position of the Endangered red-spotted grouper Epinephelus akaara (Perciformes, Serranidae) collected in South Korea

We determined complete nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial genome of two individuals of the Red-spotted grouper, Epinephelus akaara (Perciformes, Serranidae), caught in South Korea. The mitochondrial genome had 16,795 base pairs (bp) and 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNAs, 22 transfer RNAs, and a noncoding control region. The two mt genomes were highly homologous (99.71% similarity). The two mt genomes of E. akaara analyzed in this study were found in Clade I with those of E. awoara, E. fasciatomaculosus, E. sexfasciatus, E. diacanthus, E. sticus, and E. morio. Here, we reported the complete mt genome sequence of E. akaara, suggesting that this may use in phylogenetic studies of Epinephelus.