Genomic and genetic insights into speciation and pigment pattern diversification in <i>Danio</i> fishes.

ABSTRACT: The Danioninae subfamily of teleost fishes boasts up to four hundred distinct species that have evolved to display a stunning diversity of morphological forms. Here we use newly assembled genome sequences of four laboratory and wild zebrafish strains as well as eleven species of the Danio and Danionella genera to explore their phylogenetic history and the genetic basis of pigment pattern diversification. Phylogenomic analyses uncover extensive introgression and incomplete lineage sorting that have obscured phylogenetic relationships within Danio and corroborate an ancient hybrid origin of zebrafish. Whereas D. rerio inherited ancestral horizontal stripes, relatives repeatedly evolved spots and vertical bars. Interspecific complementation tests reveal functional

SUBMITTER: Lu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12632866 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature