Complete mitochondrial genome assemblies for three species of searobins (genera Bellator and Prionotus) and their phylogenetic relationships within Triglidae: Prionotinae

Abstract

Species from the genera Bellator and Prionotus, commonly known as searobins, are marine ray-finned fish that belong to the subfamily Prionotinae. These fish have evolved distinctive morphological features and specialized behaviors that enable them to walk along the seafloor while detecting buried prey. This unique adaptation makes them ideal candidates for studies in evolutionary genetics. However, their phylogenetic relationships remain poorly understood. In this study, we utilized publicly available genomic reads from the GenBank database to assemble the first complete mitochondrial genomes of three searobin species: Bellator militaris, Prionotus alatus, and P. stephanophrys. We conducted a comparative analysis of these mitochondrial genomes, including the first phylogenetic analysis of the Prionotinae based on complete mitogenomic data. The resulting circular contigs measured 16,765 base pairs for B. militaris, 16,602 base pairs for P. alatus, and 16,896 base pairs for P. stephanophrys. The three mitogenomes exhibited a typical vertebrate organization, which includes 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNAs, 22 transfer RNAs, and a putative control region. Notably, P. stephanophrys contained an additional tRNA-Leu and an extra non-coding region. A Bayesian phylogenetic analysis grouped all Bellator species into a monophyletic clade within Prionotinae, while the sister taxon Prionotus formed a separate monophyletic subclade. The findings of this research provide valuable insights into the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history of the genera Bellator and Prionotus. Clarifying the taxonomy of these species may also support future management and conservation efforts for these economically valuable species.