Chromosome-scale genome assembly and annotation of the water monitor lizard, Varanus salvator

Species of the genus Varanus exhibit substantial variation in body size, making them an excellent model system for studying evolutionary biology. Their genomes can provide valuable insights into the evolutionary mechanisms underlying body size diversity in vertebrates. Here, we presented a chromosome-level genome assembly for the water monitor lizard (Varanus salvator), generated and annotated through an integrated multi-omics approach. The assembled genome spans 1,645 Mb, with contig and scaffold N50 values of 27.34 Mb and 12.63 Mb, respectively. Approximately 97.4% of the assembled sequences were anchored onto 20 pseudochromosomes using Hi-C contact data. Repetitive elements accounted for approximately 34.0% of the genome. Assembly completeness was assessed with BUSCO, revealing that 96.7% of the conserved vertebrate BUSCO genes were complete. We identified 19,347 protein-coding genes by integrating evidence from three complementary approaches. Among these, 98.8% were functionally annotated using at least one of six major protein databases. This high-quality, chromosomal-level genome provides a critical resource for future studies in reptilian biology, encompassing evolution, ecological adaptation, and conservation.