Chromosome-Level Reference Genome of the Desert Night Lizard Xantusia vigilis

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ID: 327518
2026
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Abstract
Abstract We present a reference-quality genome assembly for the desert night lizard (Xantusia vigilis). The night lizards (Xantusiidae) are a family of small-bodied lizards found in North America (Xantusia), Central America (Lepidophyma), and Cuba (Cricosaura). The night lizard family has an independent evolutionary history of at least 80 million years from its sister taxa within Scincoidea. The Xantusiids have several unique ecological, behavioral and evolutionary characteristics. For instance, the family contains the only squamate species that form diploid, unisexual, parthenogenic lineages. In addition, most night lizards are viviparous and form stable kin groups that are maintained over multiple years, an unusual life history strategy among lizards. Combining PacBio long-read sequencing, Hi-C, and RNAseq data we developed a reference-quality genome for the desert night lizard, X. vigilis. We assembled a complete mitochondrion and ~ 2.2 Gb nuclear genome, with 20 scaffolds that correlate in size to the X. vigilis karyotype. In addition, we found that X. vigilis chromosome 1 aligns with gene content of both of macrochromosome 1 and microchromosome 9 from a genome assembly of a species in the sister family Cordylidae (Hemicordylus capensis).
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openalex_W7207823183 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Athena Lam, James B Henderson, Iris A. Holmes, Richard B. Seymour, Michael Westphal, Rayna C. Bell
Journal journal of heredity
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/jhered/esag063
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esag063
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