Colubroidea Genome sequencing and assembly

The genus Thermophis includes three closely related species: Thermophis baileyi, the Tibetan hot-spring snake; Thermophis zhaoermii, the Sichuan hot-spring snake; and Thermophis shangrila, the Shangrila hot-spring snake. All three species are endemic to the Tibetan plateau and occur at elevations over 3,500m. Although they are found around hot-springs, these species still experience extreme environmental conditions, including low concentrations of molecular oxygen, high levels of UV radiation, and relatively dramatic fluctuations in temperature on a daily basis. Therefore, these species present an ideal opportunity to study the genetics of local adaptation to extreme conditions in ectotherms.