Long-read sequencing reveals atypical mitochondrial genome structure in a New Zealand marine isopod

The mitochondrial genome of the bioluminescent fish Malacosteus niger Ayres, 1848 (Stomiidae, Actinopterygii) is large and complex, and contains an inverted-repeat structure

We determined the complete mitogenome sequence of the bioluminescent fish Malacosteus niger using long-read sequencing technologies. The 21,263 bp mitogenome features a complex structure with two copies of a 1198-bp inverted-repeat and a region of 2616-bp containing alternating copies of 16 and 26 bp repeat elements. Whole mitogenome phylogenies inferred from both nucleotide and amino-acid datasets place M. niger among Melanostomiinae. The need for additional complete mitogenome sequences from the subfamily Malacosteinae is discussed.