Dokdo sea lion Zalophus japonicus genome reveals its evolutionary trajectory before extinction

Our genome-scale analysis sheds light on the phylogeny of Z. japonicus, the evolutionary pathways underlying its speciation, and its genetic diversity before extinction. Broadly, we elucidate Zalophus gene flow complexity and genetic diversities among extant species. Furthermore, this study offers retrospective genomic insights into the extinction process of a carnivorous marine mammal, information that could aid conservation efforts for extant Otariidae species.