Chromosome-level genome assemblies for three invasive Tubastraea coccinea morphotypes
The invasive sun coral Tubastraea coccinea has become one of the most widespread marine invaders, reshaping benthic communities across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Despite its ecological impact, the taxonomy and species boundaries within the invasive Tubastraea complex remain unresolved, as morphological plasticity and mixed molecular evidence have led to uncertainty regarding the true number of invading species. To address this, we generated chromosome-level genome assemblies for three invasive morphotypes commonly found worldwide. These high-quality reference genomes provide the foundation for resolving taxonomic relationships within the genus, supporting future studies in population genomics, invasion dynamics, and coral evolution.