Comparative genomics of the world’s smallest mammals reveals links to echolocation, metabolism, and body size plasticity

Abstract

Originating 30 million years ago, shrews (Soricidae) have diversified into around 400 species worldwide. Shrews display a wide array-array of adaptations, with some species having developed distinctive traits such as echolocation, underwater diving, and venomous saliva. Accordingly, these tiny insectivores are ideal to study the genomic mechanisms of evolution and adaptation. We conducted a comparative genomic analysis of four shrew species and 16 other mammals to identify genomic variations unique to shrews. Using two existing shrew genomes and de novo assemblies for the maritime (Sorex maritimensis) and smoky shrew (S. fumeus), we identified mutations in conserved regions of the genomes, also known as accelerated regions, gene families undergoing significant expansion, and positively selected genes. Our analyses unveiled shrew-specific genomic variants in genes associated with the nervous, metabolic, and auditory systems, which can be linked to unique traits in shrews. Notably, genes suggested to be under convergent evolution in echolocating mammals exhibited accelerated regions in shrews, and pathways linked to putative body size plasticity were detected. These findings provide insight into the evolutionary mechanisms shaping shrew species, shedding light on their adaptation and divergence over time.