The complete mitochondrial genome of the sea cucumber: Colochirus robustus (Cucumariidae: Dendrochirotida) and phylogenetic analysis

Mitochondrial sequences are commonly utilized as genetic makers in molecular genetic studies for Holothuroidea species. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Colochirus robustus is reported for the first time. These data demonstrate that the C. robustus mitochondrial was a 17,171 bp circular molecule and encodes the typical 37 metazoan mitochondrial genes [13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs)] genes, and a putative control region. The genome composition was highly A + T biased 67.55% and showed positive AT-skew (0.182) and negative GC-skew (-0.314). The complete mitogenome provides essential and important DNA molecular data for further phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis for holothurians.