Karyotypes and other chromosomal markers were investigated in three species of the catfish genus Pimelodus, namely P. fur, P. maculatus and Pimelodus sp., from municipality of Três Marias, Minas Gerais, Brazil, using differential staining techniques (C-banding, Silver nitrate and CMA3 staining). The diploid chromosome number was 2n = 56 in P. maculatus and Pimelodus sp., while in P. fur 2n = 54. The karyotype of P. fur consisted in 32M + 8SM + 6ST + 8A with fundamental number (NF) of 100, that of P. maculatus 32M + 12SM + 12A with NF = 112, and that of Pimelodus sp. had 32M + 12Sm + 6ST + 6A with NF = 106.The nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) in all three species were invariably detected in telomeres of longer arm of the 20th chromosome pair. These sites were also positive after CMA3 and C-banding. No heteromorphic sex chromosomes were detected and C-banding pattern was species specific. Inferences about the karyotype differentiation in Pimelodus and putative chromosomal rearrangements are hypohesized.
Cariótipos e outros marcadores cromossômicos de três espécies do gênero Pimelodus denominadas, P. fur, P. maculatus e Pimelodus sp., do município de Três Marias, Minas Gerais, Brasil, foram analisados utilizando técnicas de coloração diferenciais (Bandamento C, coloração por nitrato de prata e CMA3). O número diplóide observado foi 2n = 56 em P. maculatus e Pimelodus sp., enquanto em P. fur 2n = 54. O cariótipo de P. fur consistiu em 32M + 8SM + 6ST + 8A com número fundamental (NF) igual a 100, o de P. maculatus 32M + 12SM + 12A com NF = 112, e o de Pimelodus sp. possuía 32M + 12Sm + 6ST + 6A com NF = 106. As regiões organizadoras nucleolares (RONs) foram detectadas invariavelmente, para as três espécies, na região telomérica do braço longo do 20º par cromossômico, estas se mostraram positivamente coradas pela CMA3 e heterocromáticas. Nenhuma diferença cromossômica entre os sexos foi detectada e o padrão de bandamento C foi espécie-específico Inferências sobre a evolução cariotípica dentro do gênero Pimelodus e os possíveis rearranjos cromossômicos envolvidos neste processo são discutidos

Cytogenetical studies were carried out on 13 specimens of Rhamdia sp. from Grande stream (Paraíba do Sul river basin, Mantiqueira hills, Brazil). It was evidenced a standard diploid number 2nϭ58 chromosomes (46M/SM and 12ST), plus 1 to 4 B chromosomes, found in 10 specimens. One individual presented natural triploidy, lacking B chromosomes. Fluorescent in situ hybridization with 5S and 18S rDNA probes was employed to improve the conventional karyotypical analyses. Inferences about the presence of supernumerary chromosomes within the genus Rhamdia, based on the karyotypical evolutionary pattern of this group, as well as the reoccurrence of natural triploidy in fish at Mantiqueira hills are discussed.

The genus Astyanax comprises small characin fish of the neotropical region. The so-called ‘yellow-tailed characins’ compose one of the most widely distributed Astyanax groups. A. altiparanae and A. aff. bimaculatus, are evolutionarily closely related and commonly found in several Brazilian hydrographic basins. In the present work, chromosomal data of specimens of A. altiparanae and A. aff. bimaculatus from 4 hydrographic basins in the states of São Paulo (Upper Tietê, Paranapanema, Ribeira de Iguape) and Rio de Janeiro (Guapimirim) are shown. All the populations showed 50 chromosomes, with different karyotypic formula. Although only a single Ag-NOR bearing chromosome pair was observed, all populations possess multiple cistrons of 18S rDNA. FISH with the 5S rDNA probe showed single signals at the interstitial position of one metacentric chromosome pair. C-bands are distributed in the terminal and interstitial regions of several chromosomes. However, the As-51 satDNA are frugally located in a few chromosomes of fishes from Upper Tietê, Paranapanema and Guapimirim Rivers, being absent in individuals of A. aff. bimaculatus from Ribeira de Iguape River basin. Beside these 4 populations, molecular phylogeography studies were also performed in individuals from Middle and Lower Tietê River basin and from 2 additional collection sites in the Paranapanema and Ribeira de Iguape River basins. The phylogeographic analysis using 2 mtDNA regions (totalizing 1.314 bp of ND2 and ATPase6/8 genes) of 8 populations of the group of ‘yellow-tailed characins’ from 3 major hydrographic basins showed structuring of populations, suggesting a correlation between chromosomal (nuclear) and molecular (mitochondrial) data.

ABSTRACT. Among catfish species of the genus Rhamdia reported for the Brazilian territory, R. quelen is the most widespread, being found in nearly all hydrographic basins of Brazil. Nowadays, R. quelen is a synonym for at least 47 other species in this genus, its taxonomic status still being controversial. The available cytogenetic reports show a wide variation in the karyotypic macrostructure, with the frequent presence of supernumerary chromosomes. The remarkable cytogenetic variability associated with taxonomic issues in this species indicates that R. quelen is actually a species complex. In order to carry out a wide comparative cytogenetic study in R. quelen from southern and southeastern Brazil and examine a species complex, we analyzed the chromosomes of 14 populations from the main hydrographic basins of these two regions. Using classic and molecular cytogenetic techniques, we found seven distinct karyotypic formulae, all bearing 2n = 58 chromosomes. Supernumerary chromosomes were present in most of the populations; their number, size and C-banding pattern allowed us to differentiate populations with similar karyotypic compositions. We examined patterns of chromosomal evolution as well as the probable mechanisms involved in the origin and morphological differentiation of their supernumerary chromosomes.

We analyzed one Bunocephalus coracoideus population from the Negro River basin using cytogenetic techniques. The results showed a diploid number of 42 chromosomes in both sexes, with the karyotypic formula 4m + 14sm + 24a and fundamental number (FN) = 60 for females and the formula 5m + 14sm + 23a and FN = 61 for males, constituting an XXXX/XYXY multiple sex chromosome system. The constitutive heterochromatin is distributed in the pericentromeric regions of most of the chromosomes, except for the sex chromosomes, of which the X, X, and Y chromosomes were euchromatic and the Y chromosome was partially heterochromatic. 18S rDNA mapping confirmed the presence of nucleolar organizer regions on the short arms of the fifth chromosomal pair for both sexes. The 5S rDNA is present in the terminal regions of the short arms on the 2nd, 10th, and 12th pairs and on the X chromosome of both sexes; however, we observed variations in the presence of these ribosomal cistrons on the Y chromosome, on which the cistrons are pericentromeric, and on the Y chromosome, on which these cistrons are present in the terminal portions of the short and long arms. Telomeric sequences are located in the terminal regions of all of the chromosomes, particularly conspicuous blocks on the 10th and 12th pairs and internal telomeric sequences in the centromeric regions of the 1st, 6th, and 9th pairs for both sexes. This work describes an new sex chromosomes system for the Siluriformes and increases our genetic knowledge of the Aspredinidae family.

Five Imparfinis mirini and one Imparfinis minutus populations were studied using basic cytogenetic and molecular techniques. Cytogenetic analysis showed that I. mirini individuals presented the same diploid number 2n=58 (FN=116). However, they presented two distinct karyomorphs: karyomorph A (36m+18sm+4st) for the Mogi-Guaçu and Paranapanema basin populations, and karyomorph B (42m+12sm+4st) for the Tietê basin populations. I. minutus populations from the Paraíba do Sul basin presented a karyotype identical to karyomorph A of I. mirini. C-banding also presented distinct patterns, with a greater amount of heterochromatin, most of which was pericentromeric and interstitial for karyomorph A I. mirini and I. minutus. There was a minor amount of heterochromatin in karyomorph B, most of which was terminal and interstitial. Simple and interstitial nucleoli organizer regions were located in the biggest metacentric pair of the complement in all populations with GC-rich nature, and this location was confirmed by the fluorescent in situ hybridization technique with 18S ribosomal DNA with 5S rDNA synteny. In molecular analysis by DNA barcoding, two other populations from the Tietê basin were added. The phylogram showed that the populations were more related to the intrabasin. Cytogenetic resemblance among specimens from distinct basins may be the result of either recent convergence or ancestral feature retention not followed by mutations in mitochondrial DNA.

Pimelodidae is one of the most representative of Neotropical catfish families. However, these fish are still poorly studied in terms of cytogenetics, especially regarding the application of more accurate techniques such as the chromosomal localization of ribosomal genes. In the present work, fluorescent in situ hybridization with 5S and 18S rDNA probes was employed for rDNA site mapping in Pimelodus sp., P. fur and P. maculatus from the São Francisco River in the Três Marias municipality - MG. The results from the application of the 18S probe confirmed the previous data obtained by silver nitrate staining, identifying a simple nucleolar organizing region system for these species. However, the labeling results from the 5S rDNA probe demonstrated a difference in the number and localization of these sites between the analyzed species. The obtained data allowed inferences on the possible processes involved in the karyotypic evolution of this genus

Bunocephalus is the most species-rich Aspredinidae genus, corresponding to a monophyletic clade with 13 valid species. However, many species have their classification put in question. Here, we analyzed individuals from four Amazonian populations of Bunocephalus coracoideus by cytogenetic and molecular procedures. The geographic distribution, genetic distances and karyotype data indicate that each population represents an Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU). Cytogenetic markers showed distinct 2n and karyotype formulas, as well as different numbers and locations of the rDNA sites among ESUs. One of such populations (ESU-D) highlighted an extensive polymorphic condition, with several cytotypes probably due to chromosomal rearrangements and meiotic non-disjunctions. This resulted in several aneuploid karyotypes, which was also supported by the mapping of telomeric sequences. Phylograms based on Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Neighbor Joining (NJ) analyses grouped each ESU on particular highly supported clades, with the estimation of evolutionary divergence indicating values being higher than 3.8–12.3% among them. Our study reveals a huge degree of chromosomal and genetic diversity in B. coracoideus and highly points to the existence of four ESUs in allopatric and sympatric speciation processes. In fact, the high divergences found among the ESUs allowed us to delimitate lineages with taxonomic uncertainties in this nominal species.