A chromosome-level genome assembly of the Bullacta exarata (Cephalaspidea: Haminoeidae)

The mudsnail, Bullacta exarata, is an important marine food mollusk for both economic and aquaculture purposes. However, the scarcity of genomic information has hindered genetic research and breeding efforts. To address this gap, we developed a chromosome-level genome assembly utilizing short reads, HiFi long reads, and Hi-C sequencing data. The final assembly measures 836.77 Mb, with scaffold N50 and contig N50 values of 48.61 Mb and 1.00 Mb, respectively. Using Hi-C technology, 815.25 Mb (97.43%) of the contigs were anchored and arranged into 18 pseudochromosomes. A total of 358.66 Mb was identified as repeat elements, representing 42.86% of the genome. Furthermore, we predicted 85,914 non-coding RNAs and 17,996 protein-coding genes, with 93.48% of the protein-coding genes annotated. The BUSCO analysis indicated that the completeness of the genome assembly and annotation is 94.55% and 96.65%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis clarified the evolutionary relationships between B. exarata and representative species in gastropoda. This high-quality reference genome for B. exarata serves as a valuable resource for aquaculture, fisheries, and ecological research.