Varanus komodoensis, the Komodo dragon, is the largest living lizard, capable of taking down prey much larger than itself. Its genome reveals adaptations for a powerful cardiovascular system, heightened metabolism, and a robust immune response, resembling traits typically seen in mammals. DOI: 10.1038/s41559-019-0945-8 Author: Asier Otal
Institution: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Capybara
Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, the capybara, is the largest living rodent and is highly social, often found in groups near water bodies in South America. Its genome reveals adaptations to a semi-aquatic lifestyle and unique mechanisms of cancer resistance despite its large body size. DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evaa157 Author: Amelie
Giant manta
The Mobula birostris is the largest species of ray in the world, reaching up to 7 meters wide—yet it feeds on tiny plankton filtered through its gills! These gentle giants can even leap out of the water, a behavior scientists still don’t fully understand. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03451-0 Author: Anna Landabaso
Y. lipolytica
Yarrowia lipolytica is a dimorphic yeast. This means we can find it in its yeast form or a filamentous form. It’s a model organism for its genus and it has a very high resilience to extreme environmental conditions. DOI: 10.1038/nature02579 (Jul 01, 2004) Author: Rita Chacón Sahún
Bacillus subtilis
Bacillus subtilis is the best-characterized member of the Gram-positive bacteria. This bacteria and its close relatives are an important source of industrial enzymes (such as amylases and proteases), and much of the commercial interest in these bacteria arises from their capacity to secrete these enzymes at gram per litre concentrations. B. subtilis (natto) is also…
Crab-eating macaque
Macaca fascicularis, the crab-eating macaque, has the ability to use tools, such as stones, to open oysters and crabs—hence its name. https://doi.org/10.1186/gb-2012-13-7-r58. Oct/16/2011 Authors: Alison Cegarra Saravia, Beatriz María Gallardo Aguilar, Andrés Hervás Gómez
Domestic cat
Felis catus, the domestic cat, is known for its agility, sharp retractable claws, and keen hunting instincts, and it’s capable of rotating their ears 180 degrees to help pinpoint sounds with great accuracy. Its genome has been sequenced to reveal insights into feline diseases, behavior, and evolution. doi: 10.1101/gr.6380007 , June 25 2007 Authors: Carla…
Leopard
Panthera pardus, the leopard, has a spot pattern unique to each individual, akin to human fingerprints. Its genome reveals adaptations that allow it to live in a wide variety of habitats. DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evac128, Publication date: August/17/2022 Authors: Judith Agel Gelis, Mattin Arana Lopetegi, Arnau Crehueras Getan, Leia Tomàs Puig
Atlantic puffin
Fratercula arctica, the atlantic puffin, is an iconic seabird species, important for tourism, and inherently valuable for the marine ecosystem. Its genome includes thousands of loci that help identify relevant conservation units for seabirds. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-021-02415-4 (July/29/2021) Authors: Aina Baldomà Fort, Javier Cordero Plaza, Maria Donés Guillamet, Julia Íñiguez Sanz
Prussian carp
The Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio) has one of the most unusual genomes in the animal kingdom—some populations reproduce asexually through a process called gynogenesis, where the sperm from a male of another species is needed to trigger egg development, but the sperm’s DNA is not incorporated into the offspring. As a result, some individuals are…