Genome assembly of the musk deer <i>Moschus berezovskii</i> Flerov

The forest musk deer (<i>Moschus berezovskii</i>) is a small deer, measuring between 70 and 80 cm in height and weight between 6 and 9 kg. This species is endemic to the forest of Central and South Asia, with a notable presence in southern and central China. One of its most distinctive features is the musk gland, which is highly sought after in traditional medicine and the fragrance industry. <i>M. berezovskii</i> displays various morphological adaptations that facilitate its survival in challenging environments. Notably, males possess elongated canine teeth and lack antlers, setting them apart from true deer species. The diet of <i>M. berezovskii</i> is primarily herbivorous, consisting of diverse plant materials such as grasses and shrubs. In terms of reproductive behavior, this species exhibits a polygynous mating system, with a gestation period lasting approximately 6 to 7 months, typically resulting in the birth of a single offspring. Despite its ability to adapt, populations of musk deer are currently threatened by significant challenges, including habitat destruction from deforestation, poaching for their valuable musk, and competition with domesticated livestock. <br>We present a publicly available genome assembly of the musk deer <i>Moschus berezovskii</i>, with 696.2 Gb (~246 fold coverage) of sequence data. The complete assembly spans 2.8 Gb, with contig N50 of 69.4 Mb and scaffold N50 of 105.8 Mb anchored onto 30 chromosomes. The BUSCO analysis indicates a completeness of 96.28% (QV 44.09).