The complete mitochondrial genome of Sclerophytum grandilobatum (Verseveldt, 1980) (Anthozoa: Octocorallia: Sarcophytidae) and its phylogenetic position

Species within the genus Sclerophytum exhibit highly complex morphological characteristics, making morphological data alone insufficient for resolving their phylogenetic relationships; thus, molecular evolutionary data are valuable for inferring phylogenetic relationships within this genus. In the present study, the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the soft coral Sclerophytum grandilobatum (Verseveldt, 1980) was sequenced and annotated. The mitogenome of S. grandilobatum was 18,752 bp in length and consisted of 14 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and one tRNA gene (tRNA-Met). Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the monophyly of Sclerophytum, with S. grandilobatum forming a well-supported sister lineage to all other congeners.