Complete mitochondrial DNA sequences of the frigate tuna Auxis thazard and the bullet tuna Auxis rochei

The complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of the frigate tuna Auxis thazard and two divergent mitotypes (Mitotype I and Mitotype II) of the bullet tuna Auxis rochei have been determined. The total length of the mitogenomes was 16,506, 16,501 and 16,503 bp, respectively. All mitogenomes had a gene content (13 protein-coding, 2 rRNAs and 22 tRNAs) and organization similar to those observed in most other vertebrates. The major non-coding region (control region) ranged between 843 and 847 bp in length, and showed the typical conserved blocks. Phylogenetic analyses revealed a monophyletic origin of Auxis with respect to other tuna fish. Molecular data here presented provide a useful tool for evolutionary as well as population genetic studies.