High-quality chromosome-level genome assembly of Tibetan fox (Vulpes ferrilata)

Using Oxford Nanopore and Hi-C sequencing technology, we successfully assembled a chromosome-level genome of the Tibetan fox (Vulpes ferrilata), with a total size of 2.38 Gb and N50 length of 133 960 477 bp. The 157 contigs were further assembled into 18 chromosomes with a sequence length of 2 378.42 Mb, accounting for 99.95% of the total length. A total of <number>21715</number> protein-coding genes were predicted in the assembled genome, 86.47% of which were functionally annotated. Phylogenetic analysis showed that V. ferrilata and the red fox (V. vulpes) formed a clade, with an estimated divergence time of 3.27 million years ago (Ma). Significantly enriched pathways and Gene Ontology terms associated with the expanded gene families in the V. ferrilata genome were mainly related to hypoxia response and energy metabolism, indicating the mechanistic strategy of V. ferrilata for high-altitude adaptation. Furthermore, selection signature analysis identified genes associated with DNA damage repair and angiogenesis in V. ferrilata. Construction of the V. ferrilata genome provides valuable information for further genetic analysis of important biological processes, which will facilitate the study of genetic changes during evolution.