High-Density Genetic Linkage Map of the Southern Blue-ringed Octopus (Octopodidae: Hapalochlaena maculosa)

Genetic linkage maps provide a useful resource for non-model genomes and can aid in genome reassembly to form more contiguous pseudo-chromosomes. We present the first map of any cephalopod, H. maculosa, composed 47 groups (LG). A total 2166 single nucleotide polymorphisms 2455 presence–absence variant loci were utilised by Lep-Map3 construction. The length spans 2016.62 cM with an average marker distance 0.85 cM. Integration recent maculosa allowed 1151 scaffolds comprising 34% genomic sequence be orientated and/or placed using 1278 markers across all LG. generated provides new perspective on HOX gene distribution octopods. In three (SCR, LOX4 POST1) six identified genes (HOX1/LAB, SCR, LOX2, LOX4, LOX5, located within same LG (LG 9). generation has provided valuable understanding evolution cephalopod will base future work.