Genomic adaptations for arboreal locomotion in Asian flying treefrogs
Wei Wu, Yue‐Dong Gao, Dechun Jiang, Juan Lei, Jin‐Long Ren, Wenbo Liao, Cao Deng, Zeng Wang, David M. Hillis, Ya‐Ping Zhang, Jia‐Tang Li
Abstract
Significance To adapt to arboreal lifestyles, treefrogs have evolved a suite of complex traits that support vertical movement and gliding, thus presenting a unique case for studying the genetic basis for traits causally linked to vertical niche expansion. Here, based on two de novo-assembled Asian treefrog genomes, we determined that genes involved in limb development and keratin cytoskeleton likely played a role in the evolution of their climbing systems. Behavioral and morphological evaluation and time-ordered gene coexpression network analysis revealed the developmental patterns and regulatory pathways of the webbed feet used for gliding in Rhacophorus kio .