Chromosome-level genome assembly of the Chinese algae eater Gyrinocheilus aymonieri

Gyrinocheilus aymonieri is endemic to Yunnan Province, China. Its mouth has evolved a specialized sucker-like structure as an adaptation to fast-flowing aquatic habitats, representing a remarkable evolutionary example of environmental adaptation. Here, we present a chromosome-level genome assembly of G. aymonieri (507 Mb) integrating HiFi, Illumina, and Hi-C sequencing data. The assembly comprises 24 chromosomes with 92.3% anchoring efficiency. Genome annotation revealed 23.02% repetitive elements, 24,078 protein-coding genes, and 55,943 transcript isoforms. The good genomic collinearity also demonstrates the accuracy of the G. aymonieri genome assembly at the macroscale. This high-quality genome will provide a crucial resource for understanding cypriniform evolution and different ecological adaptation mechanisms.