Characterization of the Complete Mitochondrial Genome of Silver Tigerfish (Datnioides polota Hamilton, 1822) from South Sumatra, Indonesia, Revealing Its Phylogenetic Position within the Genus Datnioides (Early view)

Abstract

The silver tigerfish (Datnioides polota Hamilton, 1822) is an indigenous species of Indonesia, distributed in South Sumatra from tributaries to the Musi River. It is also found in the Kapuas River, Kalimantan. Genetic studies on the genus Datnioides, particularly those involving complete mitochondrial genome analyses, have primarily focused on species outside Indonesia. This study aimed to generate and characterize the complete mitochondrial genome of silver tigerfish from South Sumatra, Indonesia, using whole-genome sequencing based on Oxford Nanopore Technologies and to clarify its phylogenetic position within the genus Datnioides. The first mitochondrial genome of D. polota species from South Sumatra, Indonesia, has been successfully sequenced using the next-generation sequencing platform of Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT). The sequence has a length of 16,496 bp and consists of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and a control region (D-loop). The total nucleotide base composition of the mitochondrial genome contained 29.09% adenine, 25.59% thymine, 15.37% guanine, and 29.95% cytosine, with a GC content of 45%. Phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial genome sequences showed that silver tigerfish from South Sumatra had a closer relationship with three species within the Datnioides genus, including Indonesian tigerfish (D. microlepis), Mekong tiger perch (D. undecimradiatus), and Siamese tigerfish (D. pulcher), while exhibiting a more distant relationship with Campbell’s tigerfish (D. campbelli) from New Guinea. The complete mitochondrial genome generated in this study provides an important genetic reference resource for D. polota, supporting species identification, phylogenetic assessment, and future population genetic studies. These mitogenomic data may contribute to the sustainable management of silver tigerfish in Indonesia, with relevance to domestication, selective breeding, aquaculture development, and conservation planning.