Unusual intra-individual karyotypical variation and evidence of cryptic species in Amazonian populations of Pristimantis (Anura, Terrarana)

Abstract

We report a cytogenetic analysis of three Pristimantis fenestratus frog populations of the Amazon region in Brazil. The specimens were sampled in Borba and Manaus, Amazonas State, and in Rio Branco, Acre State. They were analyzed using Giemsa, silver staining, C-banding and FISH with rDNA probes. The karyotypes of the three populations revealed 2n = 34 chromosomes, but they differed in the number and position of Ag-NORs and in the heterochromatin pattern as well. The NOR was located on the pairs 05 and 07 in the Rio Branco specimens, pair 10 in the Manaus specimens, and pair 1 in the Borba specimens. A small C-band was detected on the telomeric region of the pair 05 in the Borba population, while in the Manaus there was a heterochromatic block adjacent to the centromere of pair 9. An unusual intra-individual variation of chromosome number was observed in metaphases of Rio Branco specimens, comprising fundamental numbers of 33, 34 and 35. Additionally, interchromosome thread connections were detected between telomere - telomere, centromere - telomere and centromere - centromere regions, and among chromosomal heterochromatin-rich sites. The NOR sites were also involved in those connections. We hypothesize that this variation is due to chromosome missegregation during mitosis. The inter- and intraindividual variation in chromosome number suggests chromosomal instability in P. fenestratus, which has not been detected in any other anuran group. Since Borba is the type-locality of P. fenestratus, a taxonomic review of the Manaus and Rio Branco populations should be done, as indicated by the cytogenetic evidence that they could be new species of Pristimantis. © 2009 The Authors.