De novo genome hybrid assembly and annotation of the endangered and euryhaline fish Aphanius iberus (Valenciennes, 1846) with identification of genes potentially involved in salinity adaptation
Background
The sequencing of non-model species has increased exponentially in recent years, largely due to the advent of novel sequencing technologies. In this study, we construct the Reference Genome of the Spanish toothcarp (Aphanius iberus (Valenciennes, 1846)), a renowned euryhaline fish species. This species is native to the marshes along the Mediterranean coast of Spain and has been threatened with extinction as a result of habitat modification caused by urbanization, agriculture, and its popularity among aquarium hobbyists since the mid-twentieth century. It is also one of the first Reference Genome for Euro-Asian species within the globally distributed order Cyprinodontiformes. Additionally, this effort aims to enhance our comprehension of the species' evolutionary ecology and history, particularly its remarkable adaptations that enable it to thrive in diverse and constantly changing inland aquatic environments.
