Genetic discontinuity and evolutionary scenario among Neotropical and Old World swift species (Aves: Apodi-formes: Apodidae)

Abstract

-The karyotypes of Streptoprocne biscutata and Streptoprocne zonaris were compared in order to understand the process of karyotype evolution in the family Apodidae in the Neotropical region. The comparisons revealed an extreme similarity between each other although some subtle differences could be also identified and some events that could have gave arise to such differences are purposed. In addition global karyotypical analyses were made involving all of Apodidae taxa with their karyotypes known until nowadays. A wide discussion is also made involving a purpose about the taxonomic status of an Old World Apodidae species and about an understanding concerning the evolutionary scenario of the karyotype through the evolutionary scale of some Apodidae clades.

Karyotypes and recombination patterns of the Common Swift (Apus apus Linnaeus, 1758) and Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo Linnaeus, 1758)

“…Thus, the Common Swift has a karyotype that is typical of most Neoaves and apparently basal for Apodidae. The karyotype evolution of other swifts has probably involved fusions of some microchromosomes with each other or/and macrochromosomes and pericentric inversions of macrochromosomes (Torres et al 2004). Apparently, the reduction of chromosome numbers occurred independently in the genera Apus, Hirundapus and Streptoprocne, which diverged from each other about 30-40 Mya (Jetz et al 2012).…”

“…It differs from the karyotypes of the previously described related Apodidae species: Little Swift (Apus affinis affinis) (2n = ± 70) (Yadav et al 1995), Fork-tailed Swift (Apus pacificus) (2n = 62), Needle-tailed Swift (H. caudacutus) (2n = 64) (Christidis 1990) and two tropical swift species in the genus Streptoprocne: S. biscutata (2n = 64) and S. zonaris (2n = 66) (Torres et al 2004). Thus, the Common Swift has a karyotype that is typical of most Neoaves and apparently basal for Apodidae.…”

“…The karyotype of the Common Swift remains unknown. However, the other swifts examined have reduced and variable diploid numbers (from 62 to 70) (Yadav et al 1995;Torres et al 2004). Falconids show a very wide variation in diploid chromosome numbers (from 40 to 92) (Christidis 1990).…”