A Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly and Annotation for the Beauty Snake Elaphe taeniura

The genus Elaphe Fitzinger, a large species clade within Colubridae, comprises 18 non-venomous snake species. Among them, Elaphe taeniura serves as a representative species due to its wide distribution and strong adaptability. However, genomic studies on this group remain limited. Here, we present a chromosome-level, high-quality reference genome for this species. The genome is assembled by integrating high-accuracy PacBio HiFi long-read sequencing and Hi-C chromatin conformation capture technologies and comprehensively annotated with the aid of transcriptomic data. The genome of E. taeniura spans 1.62 Gb, with a scaffold N50 of 206.4 Mb and the longest scaffold reaching 344.4 Mb. The genome exhibits a BUSCO completeness score of 98.2% and contains 22,246 protein-coding genes. Comparative analysis between the assembled genome and three other colubrid species revealed high synteny. In addition, several chromosomal fusion and fission events were observed. This reference genome provides a valuable resource for studying the taxonomy, conservation, and evolutionary history of the widely distributed Elaphe species.