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)…
Phylum: Chordata
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…
Bactrian camel
Camelus bactrianus, the Bactrian camel, has two humps where they can store energy in the form of fat, allowing them to survive long periods without food or water. Its genome also reveals genes with resistance insulin functions. https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms2192 (November/13/2012) Authors: Júlia Bou Vallès, Laia Xin Mercadé Pelfort, Ivett Moro Rodríguez, Paula Valero Delgado
Water buffalo
Bubalus bubalis, the water buffalo, is a mammal that can swim up to 50 km/h and hold its breath for 5 minutes. Its genome sequencing aids in understanding buffalo genetics, livestock maintainance and milk production. https://doi.org/10.1101/618785 (January/02/2020) Authors: Adrià Casas Colom, Sergi Garcia Fontanet, Paula Lluma Mañas, Neosbel Jordan Ortiz Sandoval, Jan Pericas Morales
Whale shark
The whale shark, is the largest fish in the world. Its genome presents long neuron-related genes as some other long-lived organisms. 10.1186/s12864-017-3926-9 Author: Tomas González Dantas
Great white shark
Carcharodon carcharias, the great white shark has a high capacity to heal wounds, a key factor in its lifespan of 73 years. Its genome reveals molecular adaptations and positive selection of key genes involved in wound healing. 10.1073/pnas.1819778116 Author: Oscar Santamaria