Novel transcriptome assembly and annotation of the banana slug (Ariolimax dolichophallus)

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In this research, we present a new transcriptome assembly of the Santa Cruz wild banana slug (Ariolimax dolichophallus), the species most important to redwood ecology. Its functional annotation, the first of its kind, will be provided freely. RNA‐Seq with Illumina HiSeq technology was used to analyze samples extracted from slug. We used Trinity and Trinotate for transcriptome assembly and annotation. This assembly and annotation greatly enriches the studies of the banana slug, given its is the first study of banana slug exonic expression. This large‐scale gene discovery gives the broadest depth yet to the annotated transcriptome of this important species and should be of value to ongoing genomic studies of banana slug behavior with an emphasis on their roles in redwood ecology and seed dispersion.