# ERGA-BGE genome of Dendarus foraminosus: an IUCN Least Concern darkling beetle endemic to Crete (Greece)

## TL;DR

This paper presents the genome of Dendarus foraminosus, a darkling beetle endemic to Crete, to support evolutionary and population studies.

## Contribution

The study provides a high-quality chromosome-level reference genome for Dendarus foraminosus.

## Key findings

- The genome assembly includes 11 chromosomal pseudomolecules with a total size of 0.59 Gb.
- The assembly has high contig and scaffold N50 values of 24.4 Mb and 51.9 Mb, respectively.

## Abstract

Dendarus foraminosus Mulsant and Rey, 1855 is a darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae and one of the many
Dendarus species endemic to the island of Crete.
Dendarus foraminosus is a commonly found species and is widespread in the lowland and montane phrygana and maquis of central Crete. The species is classified as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN Red List. The reference genome of
Dendarus foraminosus will enable phylogenetic, population, and evolutionary research regarding this endemic species and its close relatives. A total of 11 contiguous chromosomal pseudomolecules (sex chromosomes included) were assembled from the genome sequence. This chromosome-level assembly encompasses 0.59 Gb, composed of 430 contigs and 415 scaffolds, with contig and scaffold N50 values of 24.4 Mb and 51.9 Mb, respectively.