Complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic analysis of the copper shark <i>Carcharhinus brachyurus</i> (Günther, 1870)

Copper shark (<i>Carcharhinus brachyurus</i> Günther, 1870) is one of the most widely distributed but least known species in the family Carcharhinidae. Herein, we report the first complete mitogenome of <i>C. brachyurus</i>. The overall structure of the 16,704 bp <i>C. brachyurus</i> mitogenome was similar to that of other <i>Carcharhinus</i> species and showed the highest average nucleotide identity (97.1%) with the spinner shark (<i>Carcharhinus brevipinna</i>). Multigene phylogeny using 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) in the mitogenome resolved <i>C. brachyurus</i> clustered with other species within the genus; the overall tree topology was congruent with recent phylogenetic studies of this species. These results provide important information for conservation genetics and further evolutionary studies of sharks.