Genome of elegance coral Catalaphyllia jardinei (Euphylliidae)

Coral reefs are under stress throughout the world. To better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying coral biology and their genomic evolution, here we aimed to establish a laboratory model and sequenced the genome and transcriptomes of elegance coral <em>Catalaphyllia jardinei </em>(Euphyllidae). This monotypic genus stony coral is widespread but rare, being found across the Indo-West Pacific, from the northern Indian Ocean, Australia, Philippines, and the south China Sea. Due to its popularity in reef tanks, it is an overexploited species collected in large quantities from the wild for aquarium trade. The assembled genome contains ~651.3 Mbp and is of high physical contiguity with scaffold N50 size of 28.9 Mbp. The numbers of abiotic stress regulator heat shock protein family genes and neuropeptides (GLWamide, GRFamide, PRGamide and HIRamide) are similar to other anthozoans, and we have identified the first set of sesquiterpenoid biosynthetic pathway genes in corals. Sequencing of small RNAs allowed us to identify 35 microRNAs in <em>C. jardinei</em>, and allow us to update the number of conserved microRNAs in cnidarians. This study established a foundation for further investigation into the roles of sesquiterpenoids and microRNAs in development and response to climate change, and due to the easiness to culture <em>C. jardinei</em> in reef tanks and the established resources in this study, we propose this species can be adopted as a new laboratory model to underpin comparative work in environmental and ecological experiments.