Complete mtDNA of the Meretrix lamarckii (Bivalvia: Veneridae) and molecular identification of suspected M. lamarckii based on the whole mitochondrial genome.

The complete nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial genome of the clam Meretrix lamarckii (Bivalvia: Veneridae) was determined. It contains 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNAs, 22 transfer RNAs, and a non-coding region. We also sequenced the mitochondrial genome of the sample collected from Zhejiang province, which showed morphologic discrepancy compared with classic M. lamarckii. Comparison of two complete mitochondrial DNA data demonstrated that the two sequences have a similarity as high as 99%. The complete mitochondrial genome of M. lamarckii from Hainan is 20,965nts in length and the sample from Zhejiang is 21,209nts in length. We therefore record one new locality for the M. lamarckii and thus the geographic distribution of M. lamarckii stretches from the south coast of Guangdong China to more north, arriving at the south coast of Zhejiang China.