A haplotype-resolved genome reveals the genetic basis of spine formation in Atelerix albiventris

<正>Hedgehogs, small nocturnal mammals of the Erinaceinae subfamily, play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance(Hernandez, 2008; Taucher et al., 2020). Atelerix albiventris (A. albiventris), a species native to West and Central Africa, is the smallest of the African hedgehogs. A. albiventris has undergone domestication and is utilized in biomedical research and offered in the exotic pet trade (Santana et al., 2010). In recent years, hedgehog population numbers have shown a declining trend due to human-induced disturbance (Johnson et al., 2015).