Tragulus javanicus, the Java mouse-deer, is one of the smallest hoofed mammals, standing only about 20 cm tall. It is shy and nocturnal, inhabiting dense forests of Java. Its genome sheds light on ruminant evolution and the genetic basis of miniaturization in ungulates. DOI: 10.1126/science.aav6202 Author: Naira Mahajan (Institut Angeleta Ferrer i Sensat)
Kingdom: Metazoa
Mandarin duck
Aix galericulata is a perching duck species. This means it is adapted to roost and nest in trees, especially in wooded wetlands. It is known for its strong sexual dimorphism, with males displaying brightly colored plumage during the breeding season. It is a model species for studying mating behavior and habitat adaptation in waterfowl. Author:…
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
Aldabra giant tortoise
Aldabrachelys gigantea, the Aldabra giant tortoise, is one of the longest-lived terrestrial vertebrates, with lifespans over 150 years. It can survive months without food or water by storing nutrients and slowing its metabolism. Its genome offers insights into longevity, gigantism, and resilience in extreme conditions. DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giac090 Author: Abril Navarro (Institut Pompeu Fabra)
Bengal Tiger
There are some tigers who do not have the characteristic orange skin. Instead, they have white skin due to a mutation in the SLC45A2 gene. This mutation reduces the production of pheomelanin (the yellow or orange pigment in their fur) but retains some eumelanin (the black pigment), which forms their distinctive dark stripes. 10.1093/gigascience/giac112 (12/28/2022)…
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…