Abstract
In this study, the whole mitochondrial genome of the Purple Spot Mantis Shrimp Gonodactylus smithii from the South China Sea was determined using next-generation sequencing. The circular mitogenome of G. smithii is 16,260 bp long and consists of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, and two rRNA genes. The base composition is AT-rich and has an overall AT content of 67.76% (composition of A, G, T, and C was 35.30%, 12.41%, 32.46%, and 19.83%, respectively). Among 13 PCGs, 12 PCGs shared a common ATN as the start codon except COX1 gene using an abnormal putative first codon GCG. 11 PCGs ended with TAA or TAG, while ND6, COX2 gene terminated with a single T and ND3 gene used a special "GAT" as the stop codon. The phylogenetic tree showed that G. smithii was clustered with Gonodactylus chiragra, then together with Gonodactylaceus randalli.