Data from: Chromosome-level reference genome assembly and gene editing of the dead-leaf butterfly Kallima inachus

<p class="p">The leaf resemblance of <i><span>Kallima</span></i> (Nymphalidae) butterflies<i> </i>is an important ecological adaptive mechanism that increases survival. However, the genetic mechanism underlying ecological adaptation remains unclear owing to a dearth of genomic information. Herein, we revealed the karyotype (n = 31) of the dead-leaf butterfly <i><span>Kallima inach</span></i><i><span>us</span></i>, assembled its high-quality chromosome-level reference genome (568.92 Mb; contig N50: 19.20 Mb), and identified its Z and candidate W chromosomes. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report on these aspects of this species. In the assembled genome, 15,309 protein-coding genes and 49.86% repeat elements were annotated. Phylogenetic analysis showed that <i><span>K. inachus</span></i> diverged from <i><span>Melitaea cinxia </span></i>(no leaf resemblance), both of which are in Nymphalinae, around 40 million years ago. Demographic analysis indicated that the effective population size of <i><span>K. inach</span></i><i><span>us</span></i> decreased during the last interglacial period in the Pleistocene. The wings of adults with the pigmentary gene <i><span>ebony</span></i> knocked out using CRISPR/Cas9 showed phenotypes in which the orange dorsal region and entire ventral surface darkened, suggesting its vital role in the ecological adaption of dead-leaf butterflies. Our results provide important genome resources for investigating the genetic mechanism underlying protective resemblance in dead-leaf butterflies and insights into the molecular basis of protective coloration.</p>