ERGA-BGE reference genome of Hanak's bat ( Pipistrellus hanaki), an IUCN Vulnerable species restricted to forest-like biotopes

TL;DR

This paper presents the reference genome of Hanak's bat, a vulnerable species found only in Libya and Greece, to help understand its genetic makeup and conservation needs.

Contribution

The study provides the first chromosome-level reference genome for Hanak's bat.

Findings

The genome assembly includes 23 chromosomal pseudomolecules and spans 1.9 Gb.

Contig and scaffold N50 values are 48.7 Mb and 89.1 Mb, respectively, indicating high quality.

The genome will aid in studying the species' phylogenetic history and genetic isolation.

Abstract

Hanak's bat (
Pipistrellus hanaki Hulva and Benda 2004) is one of the most range restricted mammals in Europe, since it occurs only in Cyrenaica, Libya, and Crete (Greece). It is currently classified as 'Vulnerable' on the IUCN Red List, with its foraging habitat threatened by a number of human activities. The reference genome of Hanak's bat (
Pipistrellus hanaki) will provide a crucial resource for uncovering the species phylogenetic history and will help assess the degree of genetic isolation among its populations. A total of 23 contiguous chromosomal pseudomolecules (sex chromosomes included) were assembled from the genome sequence. This chromosome-level assembly encompasses 1.9 Gb, composed of 447 contigs and 141 scaffolds, with contig and scaffold N50 values of 48.7 Mb and 89.1 Mb, respectively.

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