Genetic diversity and the relationship of Nibea japonica and Nibea miichthioides using mitochondrial DNA gene

► High genetic diversity of Nibea japonica and Nibea miichthioides were revealed by 16S rRNA gene and COI gene. ► Large population size and low haploptype divergence were indicated by high h and low π. ► The majority of variation was existed in inter-populations based on AMOVA analysis. ► N. miichthioides was more closely related to Argyrosomus japonicus than to N. japonica.