Chromosome evolution in Cophomantini (Amphibia, Anura, Hylinae)

PLoS One. 2018 Feb 14;13(2):e0192861. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192861. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

The hylid tribe Cophomantini is a diverse clade of Neotropical treefrogs composed of the genera Aplastodiscus, Boana, Bokermannohyla, Hyloscirtus, and Myersiohyla. The phylogenetic relationships of Cophomantini have been comprehensively reviewed in the literature, providing a suitable framework for the study of chromosome evolution. Employing different banding techniques, we studied the chromosomes of 25 species of Boana and 3 of Hyloscirtus; thus providing, for the first time, data for Hyloscirtus and for 15 species of Boana. Most species showed karyotypes with 2n = 2x = 24 chromosomes; some species of the B. albopunctata group have 2n = 2x = 22, and H. alytolylax has 2n = 2x = 20. Karyotypes are all bi-armed in most species presented, with the exception of H. larinopygion (FN = 46) and H. alytolylax (FN = 38), with karyotypes that have a single pair of small telocentric chromosomes. In most species of Boana, NORs are observed in a single pair of chromosomes, mostly in the small chromosomes, although in some species of the B. albopunctata, B. pulchella, and B. semilineata groups, this marker occurs on the larger pairs 8, 1, and 7, respectively. In Hyloscirtus, NOR position differs in the three studied species: H. alytolylax (4p), H. palmeri (4q), and H. larinopygion (1p). Heterochromatin is a variable marker that could provide valuable evidence, but it would be necesserary to understand the molecular composition of the C-bands that are observed in different species in order to test its putative homology. In H. alytolylax, a centromeric DAPI+ band was observed on one homologue of chromosome pair 2. The band was present in males but absent in females, providing evidence for an XX/XY sex determining system in this species. We review and discuss the importance of the different chromosome markers (NOR position, C-bands, and DAPI/CMA3 patterns) for their impact on the taxonomy and karyotype evolution in Cophomantini.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anura / classification
  • Anura / genetics*
  • Chromosome Banding
  • Chromosomes / genetics*
  • Diploidy
  • Evolution, Molecular*
  • Female
  • Genetic Variation
  • Heterochromatin / genetics
  • Karyotype
  • Karyotyping
  • Male
  • Nucleolus Organizer Region / genetics
  • Phylogeny
  • Polyploidy
  • Sex Chromosomes / genetics
  • Species Specificity

Substances

  • Heterochromatin

Grants and funding

DB, DC and JF thank Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (PICTs 0404/2013, 1343/2014, 1930/2014, 2035/2014, 0813/2015, 0820/2015, 2381/2015). JF thanks CONICET (PIP 11220110100889). JF and CFBH thank the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP Procs. #2012/10000-5, 2013/50741-7). CFBH was also supported with a CNPq research fellowship.