ArticleScience China. Life sciences2023
The genetic basis of the leafy seadragon's unique camouflage morphology and avenues for its efficient conservation derived from habitat modeling.
Article in Science China. Life sciences, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.
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9 citing papers in PubMed, 19 citations in OpenAlex.
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- Symbiosis with and mimicry of corals were facilitated by immune gene loss and body remodeling in the pygmy seahorse.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2025Article
- Integrating hotspot dynamics and centers of diversity: a review of Indo-Australian Archipelago biogeographic evolution and conservation.Marine life science & technology · 2025Article
- Improving Distribution Prediction by Integrating Expert Range Maps and Opportunistic Occurrences: Evidence From Japanese Sea Cucumber.Ecology and evolution · 2025Article
- Genomic insights into adaptation to bipedal saltation and desert-like habitats of jerboas.Science China. Life sciences · 2024Article
- Predicting the Potential Distribution of the Szechwan Rat Snake (Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2023Article
- What the genome of the leafy seadragon teaches us about rapid evolution of camouflage and adaptations to life in the kelp forest.Science China. Life sciences · 2023Article
- Evolutionary genomics of camouflage innovation in the orchid mantis.Nature communications · 2023Article
- Gene loss and co-option of toll-like receptors facilitate paternal immunological adaptation in the brood pouch of pregnant male seahorses.Frontiers in immunology · 2023Article
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Authors and funding
13 authors at 8 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
The leafy seadragon certainly is among evolution's most "beautiful and wonderful" species aptly named for its extraordinary camouflage mimicking its coastal seaweed habitat. However, limited information is known about the genetic basis of its phenotypes and conspicuous camouflage. Here, we revealed genomic signatures of rapid evolution and positive selection in core genes related to its camouflage, which allowed us to predict population dynamics for this species. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that seadragons have the smallest olfactory repertoires among all ray-finned fishes, suggesting adaptations to the highly specialized habitat. Other positively selected and rapidly evolving genes that serve in bone development and coloration are highly expressed in the leaf-like appendages, supporting a recent adaptive shift in camouflage appendage formation. Knock-out of bmp6 results in dysplastic intermuscular bones with a significantly reduced number in zebrafish, implying its important function in bone formation. Global climate change-induced loss of seagrass beds now severely threatens the continued existence of this enigmatic species. The leafy seadragon has a historically small population size likely due to its specific habitat requirements that further exacerbate its vulnerability to climate change. Therefore, taking climate change-induced range shifts into account while developing future protection strategies.
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