This page provides an up to the minute summary of data currently available in the database. Parameters reported include minimum and maximum reported genomes sizes (in picograms), mean genomes sizes with standard error (SE), total number of species assayed, and the methods, cell types, and standards used for all available records. Note that the statistics reported here are based on all records in the database -- for maximum reliability, you are encouraged to evaluate the data for your particular group of interest directly. Note also that these C-value summaries do not currently account for instances of polyploidy (though this will be updated in the future).
Because these statistics refer to the database as a whole, they must be cited as follows if used in a publication:
- Gregory, T.R. (2005). Animal Genome Size Database. http://www.genomesize.com.
Please select your group of interest from the list:
- Entire Database (i.e., all animals)
- All Chordates | Amphibians | Birds | Fishes | Mammals | Reptiles
- All Invertebrates | Annelids | Arachnids | Crustaceans | Echinoderms | Flatworms | Insects | Molluscs | Nematodes
- Methods, Cell Types, and Standard Species
(Other invertebrate groups are insufficiently represented for summary stats)
Fishes
| Number of fishes: | 1558 |
| Smallest fish genome size: | 0.35pg, Tetraodon nigroviridis, Spotted green pufferfish |
| Largest fish genome size: | 132.83pg, Protopterus aethiopicus, Marbled lungfish |
| Mean for fishes: | 1.93pg ± 0.14 |
Agnathans
| Number of lampreys: | 10 |
| Smallest lamprey genome size: | 1.29pg, Lampetra fluviatilis, European river lamprey |
| Largest lamprey genome size: | 2.50pg, Petromyzon sp., Lamprey |
| Number of hagfishs: | 7 |
| Smallest hagfish genome size: | 2.29pg, Eptatretus cirrhatus, Hagfish |
| Largest hagfish genome size: | 4.59pg, Myxine garmani, Hagfish |
| Mean for lampreys: | 1.58pg ± 0.12 |
| Mean for hagfishs: | 3.29pg ± 0.33 |
| Mean for all agnathans: | 2.28pg ± 0.26 |
Chondrichthyes
| Number of skates/rays: | 69 |
| Smallest skate/ray genome size: | 2.46pg, Rhinobatos schlegelii, Yellow guitarfish |
| Largest skate/ray genome size: | 12.04pg, Crassinarke dormitor, N/A |
| Number of sharks: | 61 |
| Smallest shark genome size: | 2.73pg, Carcharhinus obscurus, Dusky shark |
| Largest shark genome size: | 17.05pg, Oxynotus centrina, Angular roughshark |
| Mean for skates/rays: | 4.86pg ± 0.22 |
| Mean for sharks: | 6.84pg ± 0.46 |
| Mean for all chondrichthyes: | 5.67pg ± 0.26 |
Teleosts
| Number of teleosts: | 1372 |
| Smallest teleost genome size: | 0.35pg, Tetraodon nigroviridis, Spotted green pufferfish |
| Largest teleost genome size: | 4.90pg, Salmo salar (3x), Atlantic salmon |
| Largest non-polyploid teleost genome size: | N/A |
| Mean for teleosts: | 1.16pg ± 0.02 |
| Mean for all non-polyploid teleosts: | N/A |
Dipnoans
| Number of dipnoans: | 7 |
| Smallest dipnoan genome size: | 40.08pg, Protopterus aethiopicus congicus, Marbled lungfish |
| Largest dipnoan genome size: | 132.83pg, Protopterus aethiopicus, Marbled lungfish |
(Note: The values for African lungfish species reported by Vervoort (1980) should be considered significant underestimates, since his Feulgen protocol involved only a 120sec hydrolysis in 5N HCl. In that study, he reported a C-value of 40pg for Protopterus aethiopicus congicus, whereas the corrected value for P. aethiopicus aethiopicus provided by Pedersen (1971) is roughly 133pg. If one assumes the same DNA content for both subspecies of P. aethiopicus, then the haploid DNA content of the polyploid P. dolloi would be estimated at a staggering 270pg if Vervoort's (1980) ratios and Pedersen's (1971) absolute value are correct! On the other hand, Vinogradov (2005) claimed that the largest genome size among vertebrates is found in Lepidosiren paradoxa at 80pg and that Pedersen's (1971) measurement of Protopterus was vastly inflated. However, he did not measure P. aethiopicus, he measured P. dolloi -- and actually got a 20% lower value for P. dolloi than in Vervoort's (1980) clearly inaccurate estimate (i.e., 65 vs 82pg). A recent estimate for P. annectens by Morescalchi et al. (2002) was 50% higher than Vervoort's (1980) report for this species, further illustrating that such a low estimate for P. dolloi is very unlikely to be reliable. If Morescalchi et al. (2002)P. annectens is accurate and at least the ratios in Vervoort's (1980) measurements are correct, then P. dolloi should be at least 125pg. In any event, it remains the case that the largest vertebrate genome reported is 133pg for P. aethiopicus, followed by 120pg for two species of Necturus amphibians).
Comments:
- Positive correlation with cell and nucleus sizes within and among all major fish groups (Gregory 2001a,b; Hardie and Hebert, 2003).
- Probably no causative association between large genome size and aestivation in lungfishes (see Gregory 2002b).
- Genome sizes are secondarily increased in lungfishes, as shown by fossil cell size data (Thomson 1972).
- Possibly an association with morphological specialization (Hinegardner 1976b; Gregory 2002b).
- Polyploidy is relatively common in certain orders of teleosts (Cypriniformes, Salmoniformes, and Siluriformes) (Gregory and Mable 2005).
- Despite their otherwise incredible diversity, most teleosts have small genomes and 48 chromosomes, with only the ancient polyploids deviating substantially from this trend.
- Some evidence of intraspecific variation, e.g., because of B chromosomes, but almost always in groups where other modulations of DNA content, e.g. polyploidy, are common.
- Reported positive correlation with longevity (Griffith et al. 2003), but this has been challenged and is probably an artifact of comparing (polyploid) sturgeons with a handful of teleosts (Gregory 2004b). Within just the teleosts, and within sturgeons if chromosome number (i.e., ploidy level) is controlled for, the relationship is actually negative, if it exists at all (Gregory 2004b). Civetta et al. (2004) have published a rebuttal, but click here for a challenge to their latest arguments.
- No correlation between genome size and metabolism (Hardie and Hebert 2004)
- Positive correlation between genome size and egg diameter (Hardie and Hebert 2004).
- Freshwater and eurybiotic fishes have larger genomes than their marine and stenobiotic counterparts (Hardie and Hebert 2004).
- Chromosome elimination and chromatin diminution found in some agnathans.
Summary of Methods, Cell Types, and Standard Species for Fishes
Methods (code)
| Biochemical Analysis (BCA) | 32 | 1.56% |
| Bulk Fluorometric Assay (BFA) | 322 | 15.65% |
| Feulgen Densitometry (FD) | 665 | 32.33% |
| Feulgen Image Analysis Densitometry (FIA) | 526 | 25.57% |
| Flow Cytometry (FCM) | 474 | 23.04% |
| Not Specified (NS) | 15 | 0.73% |
| Static Cell Fluorometry (SCF) | 21 | 1.02% |
| Ultraviolet Microscopy (UVM) | 2 | 0.10% |
Cell Types (code)
| Brain (BR) | 9 | 0.43% |
| Corneal epithelium (CE) | 9 | 0.43% |
| Dorsal fin clip (FC) | 14 | 0.68% |
| Kidney cells (KC) | 2 | 0.10% |
| Liver (LV) | 42 | 2.03% |
| Not specified (NS) | 21 | 1.01% |
| Red blood cells (RBC) | 1961 | 94.60% |
| Retinal cells (RC) | 3 | 0.14% |
| Sperm (S) | 11 | 0.53% |
| Spleen (SP) | 1 | 0.05% |
Standard Species (code, C-value)
| Acipenser ruthenus (AR, 1.90pg) | 9 | 0.22% |
| Ambystoma jeffersonianum (AJ, 28.80pg) | 1 | 0.02% |
| Betta splendens (BS, 0.64pg) | 520 | 12.97% |
| Bufo terrestris (BT, 5.00pg) | 4 | 0.10% |
| Carassius auratus (CA, 1.75pg) | 26 | 0.65% |
| Cricetus cricetus (CCR, 3.50pg) | 10 | 0.25% |
| Cyprinus carpio (CP, 1.70pg) | 211 | 5.26% |
| Drosophila melanogaster (DM, 0.18pg) | 1 | 0.02% |
| Gallus domesticus (GD, 1.25pg) | 1104 | 27.54% |
| Ginglymostoma cirratum (GC, 3.90pg) | 1 | 0.02% |
| Homo sapiens (HS, 3.50pg) | 253 | 6.31% |
| Mus musculus (MM, 3.30pg) | 154 | 3.84% |
| Myxine garmani (MG, 4.60pg) | 7 | 0.17% |
| Not specified | 50 | 1.25% |
| Oncorhynchus mykiss (OM, 2.60pg) | 663 | 16.54% |
| Rana pipiens (RP, 6.70pg) | 522 | 13.02% |
| Rana temporaria (RT, 4.30pg) | 44 | 1.10% |
| Rattus norvegicus (RN, 3.10pg) | 3 | 0.07% |
| Salmo salar (SA, 3.00pg) | 1 | 0.02% |
| Scyliorhinus canicula (SC, 5.70pg) | 46 | 1.15% |
| Strongylocentrotus purpuratus (SP, 0.89pg) | 322 | 8.03% |
| Sus scrofa (SS, 3.20pg) | 2 | 0.05% |
| Thymallus thymallus (TH, 2.15pg) | 9 | 0.22% |
| Tinca tinca (TT, 1.00pg) | 4 | 0.10% |
| Various | 37 | 0.92% |
| Xenopus laevis (XL, 3.15pg) | 4 | 0.10% |