takifugu rubripes

The species is often referred to in the genomics literature as Fugu rubripes. The genus Fugu is a synonym of the currently preferred Takifugu.{{Cite journal|year=1990|title=The pufferfish genus Fugu Abe, 1952, a junior subjective synonym of Takifugu Abe, 1949|url=http://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/110004311733|journal=Bull. Natn. Sci. Mus., Tokyo, Ser. A|volume=16|pages=15–20|author=Keiichi Matsuura}} Takifugu is Japanese for puffer and rubripes comes from the Latin ruber and pēs meaning ruddy foot.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

The species is known from the Sea of Japan, East China Sea and Yellow Sea north to southern Sakhalin, at depths of {{convert|10-135|m|ft|abbr=on}}. It is a demersal species. Spawning occurs in estuaries; young fish can tolerate a wide range of salinities and will remain in river mouths and lagoons, maturing for one year before migrating permanently to the open ocean.

A feature of this species is that it has a very small genome, which is used as a 'reference' for identifying genes and other elements in human and other vertebrate genomes. The genome was published in 2002 by the International Fugu Genome Consortium via whole genome shotgun sequencing. After being initiated in 1989, it was the first vertebrate genome after the human genome to be made publicly available.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fugu-sg.org/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011026040800/http://www.fugu-sg.org/|archive-date=2001-10-26|title=Fugu Genome Project: IMCB, A*STAR, Singapore|website=www.fugu-sg.org|access-date=2016-12-05}} It remains among the smallest known vertebrate genomes; its number of base pairs is ~6% and the number of previously known protein-coding genes ~13% that of the human genome, although the number of chromosomes (22) is comparable to that of humans (23). This makes it particularly useful for comparative studies. Current estimates show a total of 392,376,244 base pairs, 1,138 known and 18,093 novel protein-coding genes, and 593 RNA genes.{{Cite journal|last1=Kai|first1=Wataru|last2=Kikuchi|first2=Kiyoshi|last3=Tohari|first3=Sumanty|last4=Chew|first4=Ah Keng|last5=Tay|first5=Alice|last6=Fujiwara|first6=Atushi|last7=Hosoya|first7=Sho|last8=Suetake|first8=Hiroaki|last9=Naruse|first9=Kiyoshi|date=2011-01-01|title=Integration of the Genetic Map and Genome Assembly of Fugu Facilitates Insights into Distinct Features of Genome Evolution in Teleosts and Mammals|url=http://gbe.oxfordjournals.org/content/3/424|journal=Genome Biology and Evolution|language=en|volume=3|pages=424–442|doi=10.1093/gbe/evr041|issn=1759-6653|pmid=21551351|pmc=5654407}}

One type of torafugu, 22-seiki fugu (meaning "22nd-century fugu"), has been genetically modified by removing four leptin receptor genes that control appetite. The result has increased appetite and weight gain, growing on average 1.9 times faster than normal torafugu. It is sold commercially as food.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-05 |title=Startup hopes genome-edited pufferfish will be a hit in 2022 |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2022/01/05/food/startup-hopes-genome-edited-pufferfish-will-hit-2022/ |access-date=2022-09-16 |website=The Japan Times |language=en-US |archive-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117022646/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2022/01/05/food/startup-hopes-genome-edited-pufferfish-will-hit-2022/ |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |title=Japan's Three Genome-Edited Food Products Reach Consumers |url=https://www.isaaa.org/blog/entry/default.asp?BlogDate=1/19/2022 |access-date=2022-09-16 |website=Science Speaks |language=en}}

As some other pufferfish, some organs of the Japanese puffer contain tetrodotoxin and are highly toxic. The toxin is highly concentrated in liver and ovaries, slightly present in the intestines and flesh, and absent from skin and testes.

The Japanese puffer is classified as a Near Threatened by the IUCN. It is one of the most valuable commercial fishes in Japan, and although current catches (101 tonnes / year in 2004, down from a peak of 2,000 tonnes in 1987) are small compared to those of many other commercial species such as sardines and anchovy, they appear to be unsustainable and prevent the recovery of the species from earlier over-exploitation. Gear restrictions (most catches occur by longline fishing) and adjustments of fishery seasons to protect juveniles have been recommended to aid recovery. The species is extensively raised in aquaculture.

{{Reflist}}

{{Wikispecies}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20011026040800/http://www.fugu-sg.org/ Fugu Genome Project]
• [http://www.se.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp/Fugu-Map/map.html Interactive chromosome linkage map]
• View the [http://www.ensembl.org/Takifugu_rubripes/Info/Index/ fugu genome] on Ensembl

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1065355}}

rubripes

Category:Fish described in 1850

Category:Animal models

Category:Genomics

Category:Taxa named by Coenraad Jacob Temminck

Category:Taxa named by Hermann Schlegel