Karyotypes of 10 species of neotropical cichlids (Pisces, Perciformes)

Abstract

Ten neotropical species of family Cichlidae (Pisces: Perciformes) were analyzed cytogenetically. The results obtained also support the indications that the chromosomal evolution of this group was more conservative than divergent from the numerical point of view. All species showed a chromosome number of 2n = 48, although differences in chromosome morphology were observed. The species Chaeto-branchopsis amtrale exhibited a karyotype consisting of 48 subtelo-acrocentric chromosomes, which is possibly of a more primitive type in relation to the karyotypes of the remaining species investigated. No chromosome differences were detected between males and females, indicating the absence of morphologically differentiated sex chromosomes. © 1985 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.