Abstract
Rock carp (Procypris rabaudi) is an endemic fish species distributed in upper reaches of the Yangtze River. Due to anthropogenic influences, such as hydropower development, over-fishing and habitat destruction, the wild populations of the species have dramatically declined in recent decades. To inform effective conservation strategies, it is essential to elucidate the species' adaptive mechanisms through genomic analyses. The present study reported a high-quality genome assembly at the chromosome level of P. rabaudi. The final genome assembly was 1.66 Gb in length, with a contig N50 of 24.95 Mb and a scaffold N50 of 32.60 Mb, and was anchored to 50 chromosomes. The assembled genome achieved a BUSCO completeness score of 97.8%, with 45,784 protein-coding genes identified, of which 94.78% were functionally annotated in at least one protein database. Additionally, 1,305 gene families were found to be expanded, while 14,463 gene families showed contraction. The high-quality reference genome of P. rabaudi served as a valuable genetic resource, providing a foundation for the conservation of wild populations and the exploration of evolutionary mechanisms.