Chromosome diversity of the genusAotus from Colombia

Abstract

Description of six Colombian karyomorphs is completed through an extensive cytogenetic characterization of 35 Aotus (owl monkeys) specimens. The description of a new karyomorph for Colombian Aotus by chromosome on Q, G, R, and C, sequential banding is included. Pairs of karyomorphs 2 and 3 and 6 and 9 with 2n of 54, and 50, respectively, as well as karyomorphs 7 and 8 with 46 and 58 chromosomes were strongly suspected to represent different species on the grounds of large karyotypic differences. A proposal for a chromosome nomenclature of Aotus karyomorphs that aims to clarify Aotus taxonomy is presented which achieves a precise correspondence of different banding patterns, based on Q, G, R, and C sequential banding and chromosome measurements. Although our contribution is not a universal nomenclature system, unique criteria for chromosome denomination within Aotus karyomorphs are established. Previous systems of chromosome nomenclature have not successfully addressed the nomenclature of chromosomes of the same karyotype. Am. J. Primatol. 44:255–275, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Coupling and decoupling of evolutionary mode between X- and Y-chromosomal red-green opsin genes in owl monkeys

“…Pre-mating reproductive isolation between the two species groups appears to be established in the natural habitat since hybrids have not been found in river-bend cutoffs where species from the two groups are sympatric, though the two groups can be crossed in captivity with reduced fertility (Pieczarka et al, 1992). The karyotypical diversity is one of the most conspicuous characteristics among owl monkeys, exhibiting many intraand inter-specific chromosomal variations, both numerical and structural; chromosome diploid numbers ranging from 46 to 58 in 18 karyotypes can be assigned to general karyotypically-defined taxa (Torres et al, 1998). Characteristic of the southern species group, three widely-distributed species (Aotus nigriceps, Aotus azarae, and Aotus infulatus) have been documented to have a Y/autosome fusion chromosome (Pieczarka and Nagamachi, 1988;Ma et al, 1989;Pieczarka et al, 1993).…”

Hemiplasy and homoplasy in the karyotypic phylogenies of mammals

“…So, perhaps such rearrangements occasionally do survive as polymorphic states for considerable lengths of time, although this would also depend on historical variables including effective population size and spatial population structure. Robertsonian polymorphisms, such as the 2n ϭ 56, 58, 62 series documented in Rhinolophus hipposideros from different geographic areas and the 2n ϭ 42 Ϫ 44 variation in Rhinolophus pearsoni from various provinces in China (32), are well known in bats, and in some other mammalian groups including rodents (33,34), bovids (35), insectivores (36), and primates (37). In some cases (such as in the 44-chromosome gibbons), multiple related species share polymorphic chromosomal conditions, indicating that the polymorphisms have survived speciation events (38).…”

Behavior, Ecology, and Demography of Aotus vociferans in Yasuní National Park, Ecuador

“…Across the area, the various forms of Aotus occupy habitat types that range from evergreen rain forests to semideciduous dry forests. They likewise show dramatic variation in chromosome number (2n=46-54, Defler et al 2001;Galbreath 1983;Hershkovitz 1983;Ma et al 1985;Pieczarka et al 1993;Torres et al 1998), body mass (800-1350 g; Aquino and Encarnación 1986a, b;Fernandez-Duque 2007;Smith and Jungers 1997), and activity pattern. Most species are strictly nocturnal, whereas at least one is cathemeral, with activity taking place during the day and at night (Erkert and Grober 1986;Fernandez-Duque 2003;Fernandez-Duque and Erkert 2006;Wright 1989).…”