Evolution Of Fishes Research Articles

Integrating Historical biogeography and Pliocene climate fluctuation to Unraveling the evolution of Tigris-Euphrates drainage basin through widespread freshwater Barbinae (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae)

The formation history of the Tigris-Euphrates basins (TEB) and Karun River remains mostly unknown. To unravel the evolutionary history of the TEB and Karun River, we integrated the biogeography and climatic niche models of the freshwater fish with the largest natural distribution pattern. This study investigates 16 species of the Barbinae subfamily with wide distributions and high diversity. Mitochondrial Cytb and COI genes were obtained from various locations via GenBank and utilized to generate a dated phylogeny and reconstructed ancestral areas with the BioGeoBEARS model. We used the BAMM tools to estimate rates of diversification through time. Furthermore, by integrating potential geographic distribution with four spatial climate variables including max temperature of warmest month, min temperature of coldest month, temperature annual range and annual precipitation, we reconstruct ancestral predicted niche occupancy (PNO) profiles using ecological niche modeling (ENM) method. Based on the evolution of endemic TEB and Karun River Barbinae, we hypothesize that ancestral clades appeared in the TEB in the late Oligocene/early Miocene (∼23.12 Mya) and dispersed to the basin from the mid-Miocene onward (∼14.33 Mya). Our results suggest that the mid-Miocene uplift of the Zagros Mountains likely impacted Karun River flow in southwestern Iran, contributing to the observed diversification patterns in Barbinae. In addition, niche divergence was dominant in Barbinae diversification, alongside phylogenetic niche conservatism. The study introduces a method combining phylogenetic, biogeographic, and niche modeling data to explore freshwater fish evolution in the Tigris-Euphrates and Karun basins, highlighting geological impacts on biodiversity and diversification processes.

Silent Carriers: The Hidden Threat of Antibiotic-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Retail Seafood Across Poland's Tri-City Area.

Background/objectives: Antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus poses a significant risk to food safety and public health, particularly through the consumption of contaminated seafood. This study aimed to assess the presence and antibiotic resistance of S. aureus in seafood sold in the Tri-City area of Poland, addressing a knowledge gap regarding the region. Methods: Seafood samples (n = 89) were categorized according to their origin: domestic-Poland (PL), European countries (ECs), and Asian countries (ACs). S. aureus was isolated using ISO 6888-1 methods, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted against three antibiotics: erythromycin, clindamycin, and gentamicin, following CLSI guidelines. Results: Of the 89 samples, 68.5% were contaminated with S. aureus. The highest resistance rates were found for erythromycin (30.5%), with gentamicin showing the lowest resistance (8.3%).No significant correlation (p > 0.05) was found between resistance patterns and fish origin or processing level. Conclusions: The results of this study highlight the widespread occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus in fish sold in the Tri-City area, with a notable prevalence of antibiotic-resistant strains.

Genomes reveal pervasive distant hybridization in nature among cyprinid fishes.

Genomic data have unveiled a fascinating aspect of the evolutionary past, showing that the mingling of different species through hybridization has left its mark on the histories of numerous life forms. However, the relationship between hybridization events and the origins of cyprinid fishes remains unclear. In this study, we generated de novo assembled genomes of 8 cyprinid fishes and conducted phylogenetic analyses on 24 species. Widespread allele sharing across species boundaries was observed within 7 subfamilies of cyprinid fishes. Based on a systematic analysis of multiple tissues, we found that the testis exhibited a conserved pattern of divergence between the herbivorous Megalobrama amblycephala and the carnivorous Culter alburnus, suggesting a potential link to incomplete reproductive isolation. Significant differences in the expression of 4 genes (dpp2, ctrl, psb7, and ppce) in the liver and intestine, accompanied by variations in enzyme activities, indicated swift divergence in digestive enzyme secretion. Moreover, we identified introgressed genes linked to organ development in sympatric fishes with analogous feeding habits within the Cultrinae and Leuciscinae subfamilies. Our findings highlight the significant role played by incomplete reproductive isolation and frequent gene flow events, particularly those associated with the development of digestive organs, in driving speciation among cyprinid fishes in diverse freshwater ecosystems.

Otolith stable isotopes highlight the importance of local nursery areas as the origin of recruits to yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) fisheries in the western Indian Ocean

Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) supports the second largest tuna fishery worldwide, and in the Indian Ocean, it is overfished and subject to overfishing. This situation presents a significant challenge to fisheries management, requiring effective measures to rebuild and then maintain the stock at sustainable levels. A single stock of yellowfin is currently assumed by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) for stock assessments in the Indian Ocean. However, the relative contribution of different spawning components to the total catches, and the degree of mixing rates of yellowfin tuna in the Indian Ocean by individuals from different production zones, are still unknown. This study uses otolith core oxygen and carbon stable isotope composition (δ18O and δ13C) of young-of-the-year yellowfin tuna from nursery areas located in the western (FAO Area 51) and eastern (FAO area 57) Indian Ocean, either side of 80ºE, to establish a reference baseline of isotopic signatures. Then, a mixed population program (HISEA) and Random Forest (RF) assignment approaches were used to predict the most likely origin (west or east) of sub-adult and adult yellowfin tuna captured from four fishery areas of the western Indian Ocean (offshore Pakistan, Seychelles, Reunion, and South Africa) by comparing their otolith core values to that of the baseline. Both approaches show that the western Indian Ocean fisheries are mainly composed of west origin fish (>95%). We also found some individuals with an otolith isotopic signature that was not characteristic of either of the samples available in the baseline. We simulated an alternative baseline group formed by individuals with mean and standard deviation δ13C and δ18O values above the maximum ranges of the original baseline. We then used RF to infer again the most likely origin of fish in the mixed sample considering 3 possible sources (west, east, alternative). About one third of the samples were assigned to the alternative group, possibly indicating that they differ in geographical or temporal terms with the origins represented in the original baseline. Findings of otolith stable isotope composition of yellowfin tuna in the western Indian Ocean can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the species’ spatial structure and connectivity beyond the current assumption of an ocean basin single stock.

Cleaner cuts: Farmed fish and skin-off fillets are lower in per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

The ubiquitous occurrence and persistence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in all environmental matrices and biota poses significant health risks to humans. Fish consumption is one of the main pathways humans are exposed to PFAS, yet general patterns in factors influencing PFAS content in fish fillets remain unknown. We assembled information on PFAS content (total quantified PFAS, PFOS, PFOA, and others) in fish fillets to assess the effect of fish origin (marine, freshwater, wild, or farmed), fillet type (skin-on or skin-off), and lipid content on PFAS variation across environments at a global scale. We found that these factors influenced PFAS contents in fish fillets, with concentrations reaching up to 2149ng•g wet mass-1 (WM). Specifically, PFOS and PFOA in skin-off fillets were consistently lower in farmed than wild fish across freshwater and marine environments. In freshwater wild fish, PFOS was lower in skin-off fillets than skin-on fillets at group and species levels, and multiple PFAS showed an inverse relationship with the lipid content of skin-off fillets, though the slopes showed varying steepness depending on the carbon chain length and functional group of the PFAS. However, the high variability of PFAS content across sites in aquatic environments and the complexity of PFAS bioaccumulation mechanisms in fish tissues may lead to variable results at a fine scale (i.e., species level); this highlights general patterns of factors influencing PFAS bioaccumulation that may inform the management of human exposure to PFAS through dietary consumption.

Exploring the ventricular morphology of the heart of Brycon amazonicus (Agassiz, 1829) (Teleostei, Characiformes).

Brycon amazonicus, a fish species widely distributed along freshwater rivers in Latin America, is important in maintaining ecological balance. Although some morphological/physiological aspects of B.amazonicus have been reported, the cardiac histomorphology of this species remains poorly understood. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the heart, emphasizing coronary distribution and ventricular myoarchitecture, correlating its structure with its functional activity. Ten adult specimens were anesthetized and perfused with Trident® ink to highlight the coronary branching. Subsequently, the animals were euthanized to collect the hearts, which were collected and processed for histological and histochemical techniques and scanning electron microscopy. We observed that the heart of B.amazonicus has a pyramidal ventricle, mixed myocardium, and coronary vessels restricted to the compact layer, according to classifications in the literature. The compact layer comprises two types of muscle bundles, arranged in longitudinal and circular orientations. The coronary circulation, which originates in the lateral cephalic region, starts from the heart and extends to the ventricular myocardium. Therefore, B.amazonicus has a cardiac morphology similar to that of other teleost species already described in the literature, expanding information on the Characiformes group. The description obtained of the heart of this species may contribute to further studies that seek a better understanding of the ecophysiology and evolution of teleost fish in the freshwaters of the Neotropical region.

A chromosome-level genome assembly of big-barbel schizothorcin, Schizothorax macropogon

Big-barbel schizothorcin (Schizothorax macropogon), an endemic and vulnerable species to the mid-reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, epitomizes survival in harsh conditions yet suffers significant population contractions due to human activities. This species was the subject of our study in which we leveraged PacBio, MGI-Seq, and Hi-C data to assemble a chromosome-scale genome. This assembly comprises 25 pseudo-chromosomes, yielding a genome size of 1.42 Gb with a scaffold N50 length of 59.4 Mb, indicative of a highly contiguous assembly. A BUSCO assessment ascertained the comprehensiveness of the genome at 97.9%. Annotation efforts identified 46,246 putative protein-coding genes, with 49.61% of the assembled genome annotated as repetitive sequences. This genome assembly is instrumental for advancing conservation of the giant whiskered schizothoracines and related species, and for illuminating the evolution and ecology of schizothoracine fishes in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

The timing of large drainage rearrangement in South America: A study based on morphological and ecological evidence

This study aims to characterize and determine the timing of a major drainage rearrangement between two vast river basins, each exceeding 600,000 km2: the Paraná and São Francisco basins in South America. We used geomorphological analyses and the computational Black Top Hat (BTH) method to identify river captures. By using freshwater fish distribution and evolution data, we performer biogeographical analyses to assess the fish dispersal patterns. Our results show that in the past the upper Paraná River (known locally as the Grande River) once flowed into what is now the São Francisco River Basin. Biogeographical analysis corroborates this past connection between Grande and São Fracisco rivers This analysis reveals also that between 6 and 5 and 2 million years ago, a significant drainage rearrangement occurred, when the Paraná River Basin captured the Grande River and its tributary (the Sapucaí River). In this process the São Francisco Basin losing 50,000 km2 of its area to the Paraná River Basin.

A classic key innovation constrains oral jaw functional diversification in fishes

Abstract Modifications to the pharyngeal jaws—a prey processing system located posterior to the mouth cavity—are widely considered a key innovation that enhanced diversification within several prominent fish clades. Seen in cichlids, damselfishes, wrasses, and a few other lineages, these musculoskeletal alterations are believed to increase the evolutionary independence and, thus, the diversification of the oral and pharyngeal jaw systems. To test this classic hypothesis, we conducted comparative phylogenetic analyses to assess the effect of the pharyngeal novelty on the diversification of feeding morphology and kinematics across a taxonomically diverse sample of spiny-rayed fishes. We quantified movements of the oral jaws and other craniofacial structures from 689 suction-feeding strikes using high-speed videos collected from 228 species with and without the pharyngeal jaw novelty. Contradicting long-held predictions, we find significantly greater disparity across all traits and faster rates of oral jaw functional evolution in fishes without the specialized prey processing system. The modified pharyngeal jaw is undoubtedly a functional innovation as it enhances the strength of the prey processing system, facilitating exceptional transition rates to feeding on hard and tough prey. However, it also restricts the diversification of the feeding system, revealing that the impact of pharyngognathy is more nuanced than previously thought. In light of these and other recent findings, a reinterpretation of the macroevolutionary consequences of the pharyngeal jaw novelty is needed.

Chromosome-level genome assembly and population genomic analysis provide insights into the genetic diversity and adaption of Schizopygopsis younghusbandi on the Tibetan Plateau.

The Yarlung Tsangpo River on the Tibetan Plateau provides a unique natural environment for studying fish evolution and ecology. However, the genomes and genetic diversity of plateau fish species have been rarely reported. Schizopygopsis younghusbandi, a highly specialized Schizothoracine species and economically important fish inhabiting the Yarlung Tsangpo River, is threatened by overfishing and biological invasion. Herein, we generated a chromosome-level genome of S. younghusbandi and whole-genome resequencing data for 59 individuals from six locations of the river. The results showed that the divergence time between S. younghusbandi and other primitive Schizothoracine species was ∼4.2 Mya, coinciding with the major phase of the Neogene Tibetan uplift. The expanded gene families enriched in DNA integration and replication, ion binding and transport, energy storage, and metabolism likely contribute to the adaption of this species. The S. younghusbandi may have diverged from other highly specialized Schizothoracine species in the Zanda basin during the Pliocene epoch, which underwent major population reduction possibly due to the drastic climate change during the last glacial period. Population analysis indicated that the ancient population might have originated upstream before gradually adapting to evolve into the populations inhabiting the mid-stream and downstream regions of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. In conclusion, the chromosome-level genome and population diversity of S. younghusbandi provide valuable genetic resources for the evolution, ecology, and conservation studies of endemic fishes on the Tibetan Plateau.

Assembly and annotation of a chromosome-level reference genome for the endangered Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius).

Advancements in genome sequencing technology have brought unprecedented accessibility of high-throughput sequencing to species of conservation interest. The potential knowledge gained from application of these techniques is maximized by availability of high-quality, annotated reference genomes for endangered species. However, these vital resources are often lacking for endangered minnows of North America (Cypriniformes: Leuciscidae). One such endangered species, Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius), is the largest North American minnow and the top-level native aquatic predator in the Colorado River Basin of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Over the past century, Colorado pikeminnow has suffered habitat loss and population declines due to anthropogenic habitat modifications and invasive species introductions. The lack of genetic resources for Colorado pikeminnow has hindered conservation genomic study of this unique organism. This study seeks to remedy this issue by presenting a high-quality reference genome for Colorado pikeminnow developed from Pacific Biosciences HiFi sequencing and Hi-C scaffolding. The final assembly was a 1.1 Gb genome comprised of 305 contigs including 25 chromosome-sized scaffolds. Measures of quality, contiguity, and completeness met or exceeded those observed for Danio rerio (Danionidae) and 2 other Colorado River Basin leuciscids (Meda fulgida and Tiaroga cobitis). Comparative genomic analyses identified enrichment of gene families for growth, development, immune activity, and gene transcription; all of which are important for a large-bodied piscivorous fish living in a dynamic environment. This reference genome will provide a basis for important conservation genomic study of Colorado pikeminnow and help efforts to better understand the evolution of desert fishes.

The Research Advances in Distant Hybridization and Gynogenesis in Fish

ABSTRACTDistant hybridization and gynogenesis are two prevalent breeding techniques for fishes. Drawing from the research achievements of our team and the existing literature, we summarize the reproductive traits and genetic features of fishes derived from distant hybridizations and gynogenesis, and we deduce the fundamental mechanisms of these two methods and compare them, discerning their common and different characteristics. Both distant hybridization and gynogenesis techniques can alter genotypes and phenotypes, thus establishing them as significant breeding methods. Additionally, the genetic principles and the basic biological characteristics of distant hybridization and gynogenesis in fish have been inferred. We propose the concepts of macro‐hybrid and micro‐hybrid based on extensive experimental findings from fish distant hybridizations and gynogenesis. The term “macro‐hybrid” refers to offspring from distant hybridization that possess two distinct subgenomes, each inherited from one of the two parental species, such as allodiploid and allotetraploid lineages. The concept of “micro‐hybrid” refers to offspring, including autodiploid and autotetraploid lineages, as well as those resulting from artificial gynogenesis, whose genome almost originates solely from the maternal parent but in which certain DNA fragments derived from the paternal parent insert. Distant hybridization and gynogenesis are vital techniques in fish genetics, breeding, and evolution. We highlight the prospective paths for research and application of distant hybridization and gynogenesis in fishes.

Discriminating the origin of fish from closely related water bodies by combining NMR spectroscopy with statistical analysis and machine learning

Pikeperch, perch and bream are among the most traded and valued fish species in North-Eastern Europe. Therefore, it is necessary to be able to distinguish fish from different lakes and coastal sea regions to ensure a good traceability of products in the fish market and to protect both consumers and fish stocks. Untargeted metabolomics using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a suitable tool for this purpose. It is an established method for determining various properties of biological and living systems, such as health, origin, type, etc. Statistical methods including principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) are typically applied to NMR data to correlate spectra with a particular research question.Herein we examine fish from three closely related water bodies and demonstrate that reliable determination of the water body that a particular fish originates from by traditional statistical analysis (PCA and LDA) of fish NMR spectra is not possible. In contrast, determining the fish species is possible. We proceed to show that machine learning methods perform better and that a combination of statistical analysis (LDA) and random forest (RF), a supervised machine learning technique, allows reliable determination of the originating water body, while being also tolerant to seasonal variations. This is an improvement over prior work, which has dealt with more clearly distinguished origins of fish. Exceptional accuracy was achieved in correctly assigning fish to their origin even in a scenario where two of the water bodies are connected by a river through which the fish are known to migrate. Since determining the origin of fish is important in environmental protection, we recommend following up this approach and using it as the basis of a robust tool for environmental protection and other monitoring purposes.

Hypothalamic integration of nutrient sensing in fish.

The hypothalamus plays a crucial role in regulating feeding behavior in fish. In this Review, we aim to summarise current knowledge on specific mechanisms for sensing glucose, fatty acids and amino acids in fish, and to consider how this information is integrated in the hypothalamus to modulate feed intake. In fish, specific neuronal populations in the nucleus lateralis tuberalis (NLTv) of the hypothalamus are equipped with nutrient sensors and hormone receptors, allowing them to respond to changes in metabolite levels and hormonal signals. These neurons produce orexigenic (Npy and Agrp) and anorexigenic (Pomc and Cart) neuropeptides, which stimulate and suppress appetite, respectively. The modulation of feeding behavior involves adjusting the expression of these neuropeptides based on physiological conditions, ultimately influencing feeding through reciprocal inhibition of anorexigenic and orexigenic neurons and signalling to higher-order neurons. The activation of nutrient sensors in fish leads to an enhanced anorexigenic effect, with downregulation of agrp and npy, and upregulation of cart and pomc. Connections between hypothalamic neurons and other populations in various brain regions contribute to the intricate regulation of feeding behaviour in fish. Understanding how feed intake is regulated in fish through these processes is relevant to understanding fish evolution and is also important in the context of aquaculture.

Salinity plays a limited role in determining rates of size evolution in fishes globally across multiple scales

Salinity plays a limited role in determining rates of size evolution in fishes globally across multiple scales

Interacting effects of density and temperature on growth of wild and hatchery young‐of‐the‐year anadromous brown trout (Salmo trutta L.)

AbstractStocking can affect population density but may influence fish growth responses to changes in environmental conditions. In a multi‐year field experiment, we investigated the interactive effects of density and temperature on the growth of young‐of‐the‐year anadromous brown trout in streams stocked with wild‐origin hatchery‐reared brown trout. Fish origin was the predominant factor influencing growth rate, thereby highlighting the importance of discriminating between wild and hatchery‐reared individuals. Growth was positively related to temperature (degree‐days) and negatively related to density, with the growth response to temperature modulated by density. Temperature had a more pronounced effect on juvenile growth at low density than at high density. The reduced growth response to temperature caused by density could reduce population resilience and should be considered in management and conservation strategies.

Ecological evolution of salmonids

For the first time, ecological evolution of salmonid fishes is analyzed using the method of historical biogeography, considering formation of ecology and reproductive biology for these species under planetary climatic and geological changes. Climate cooling in the Cenozoic and associated reconstruction of the food base for salmonids had a major impact on evolution of their ecology. This process began at the Asian coast of the North Pacific much earlier than at the American coast and was much more intense there. The salmonids developed marine and oceanic feeding that led to their stocks increasing and a subsequent imbalance with freshwater prey. Adapting to this imbalance, the species of gen. Oncorhynchus came to irreversible reduction of organs and functions in the fresh water and absolute mortality of producers. Egg development lengthened in cold environments, and anadromous and semi-anadromous salmonid species were forced to spawn earlier, so that the larvae would hatch during the spring bloom of their prey. Gradually, the timing of their spawning shifted from early spring to winter and then to fall; accordingly, the spawning run to the rivers began earlier, in particular in the northern areas. The spawning season of atlantic salmon Salmo salar and brown trout Salmo trutta shifted to a fall and spring-summer spawning run in the north of their range and to a winter-spring and fall spawning run in the south of their range, but there is currently no reason to consider these runs as seasonal races, given that both cases evolved from a single run in the process of evolutionary changes when the spawning season was interrupted by either winter cooling or summer warming in the lower river reaches and at the coast. The northern and southern populations of salmonid fishes in the Pacific separated, too, because of these ecological changes in the late Pliocene, in conditions of cold climate. Being in isolation, they diverged enough to be considered as separate taxa rather than seasonal races.

Molecular Dating of the Teleost Whole Genome Duplication (3R) Is Compatible With the Expectations of Delayed Rediploidization.

Vertebrate evolution has been punctuated by three whole genome duplication events that have been implicated causally in phenotypic evolution, from the origin of phenotypic novelties to explosive diversification. Arguably, the most dramatic of these is the 3R whole genome duplication event associated with the origin of teleost fishes which comprise more than half of all living vertebrate species. However, tests of a causal relationship between whole genome duplication and teleost diversification have proven difficult due to the challenge of establishing the timing of these phenomena. Here we show, based on molecular clock dating of concatenated gene alignments, that the 3R whole genome duplication event occurred in the early-middle Permian (286.18 to 267.20 million years ago; Ma), 52.02 to 12.84 million years (Myr) before the divergence of crown-teleosts in the latest Permian-earliest Late Triassic (254.36 to 234.16 Ma) and long before the major pulses of teleost diversification in Ostariophysi and Percomorpha (56.37 to 100.17 Myr and at least 139.24 to 183.29 Myr later, respectively). The extent of this temporal gap between putative cause and effect precludes 3R as a deterministic driver of teleost diversification. However, these age constraints remain compatible with the expectations of a prolonged rediploidization process following whole genome duplication which, through the effects of chromosome rearrangement and gene loss, remains a viable mechanism to explain the evolution of teleost novelties and diversification.

Enhancing Guided Bone Regeneration with a Novel Carp Collagen Scaffold: Principles and Applications.

Bone defects resulting from trauma, surgery, and congenital, infectious, or oncological diseases are a functional and aesthetic burden for patients. Bone regeneration is a demanding procedure, involving a spectrum of molecular processes and requiring the use of various scaffolds and substances, often yielding an unsatisfactory result. Recently, the new collagen sponge and its structural derivatives manufactured from European carp (Cyprinus carpio) were introduced and patented. Due to its fish origin, the novel scaffold poses no risk of allergic reactions or transfer of zoonoses and additionally shows superior biocompatibility, mechanical stability, adjustable degradation rate, and porosity. In this review, we focus on the basic principles of bone regeneration and describe the characteristics of an "ideal" bone scaffold focusing on guided bone regeneration. Moreover, we suggest several possible applications of this novel material in bone regeneration processes, thus opening new horizons for further research.

A comprehensive genome survey study unveils the genomic characteristics and phylogenetic evolution of fishes in the Uranoscopidae family

The construction of high-quality genomes is fundamental for molecular studies of species. Currently, there are no published genome sequences within the Uranoscopidae family, and research on the genomic characteristics of this family is lacking. In this study, genomic analyses of seven species from the Uranoscopidae family which captured from the southeastern coast of China were conducted using next-generation sequencing technology. The results revealed that the genomic characteristics of the seven species are relatively similar. The genome sizes of the seven Uranoscopidae species ranged from 536.00 Mb to 652.49 Mb, with repeat sequence proportions between 20.09% and 36.64%, and heterozygosity levels ranging from 0.41% to 0.88%. The assembled draft genomes exhibited GC contents of these species ranging from approximately 42.14% to 43.53%. Furthermore, the mitochondrial sequences for the seven species were assembled, with sizes ranging from 14,966 to 18,446 bp. The evolutionary relationships between different species were depicted through the mapping of conserved genes, whole-genome variances and mitochondrial genome sequences. Besides, the historical effective population sizes of all species experienced rapid expansion after the Last Interglacial Period, with three species undergoing bottleneck effects. In conclusion, this study provides a reference for the subsequent construction of high-quality genomes for species within the Uranoscopidae family and offers a rich data resource for further evolutionary research.