Sternoptyx diaphana isolate:SteDia Transcriptome or Gene expression
Marine hatchetfishes (Stomiiformes: Sternoptychidae) are among the most abundant and diverse mesopelagic fish species. Despite their small size, they are found in high biomass globally and play crucial ecological roles. These fish possess a unique and distinctive morphology, characterised by compressed bodies, flattened silver sides and bioluminescent organs called photophores, which enable them to produce light. Marine hatchetfish photophores are noted for being some of the most complex bioluminescent organs, yet their functioning remains poorly understood. This knowledge gap is compounded by the complete lack of genomic resources available for hatchetfishes. Genomic tools such as RNA-seq are essential for identifying the molecular mechanisms that regulate key biological features. Here, through a multi-tissue-based RNA-seq approach, we produce the first transcriptome assembly of a marine hatchetfish, from the diaphanous hatchetfish, Sternoptyx diaphana Hermann, 1781.