Abstract
This paper reports the results of cytogenetic analyses carried out on Porichthys plectrodon using conventional Giemsa staining, C-banding and silver staining techniques. A diploid chromosome count of 2n=44 was observed, consisting of 8 metacentric, 10 submetacentric, 6 subtelocentric and 20 acrocentric chromosomes. Differences in length made it possible to identify homologous chromosomes within the metacentric group. Constitutive heterochromatin was distributed as large pericentromeric blocks in pairs 1 and 2, while the rest of the chromosomes were marked in centromeric regions, some more conspicuously than others. One pair of small-sized acrocentric NOR-bearing chromosomes (21) was identified by the nucleolar regions located terminally on their short arms.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anjum R, Jankun M (1998) NOR-bearing chromosomal associations revealed through silver and sequential chromomycin A3 staining in the mirror carp, Cyprinus carpio. Caryologia 51:167–171
Brum MJI, Affonso PRAM, Mota LCG, Pauls E, Netto MRCB (2001) Cytogenetic characterization of Porichthys porosissimus (Valenciennes, 1857) (Batrachoididae, Batrachoidiformes) from the Rio de Janeiro Coast, Brazil. Chromosome Sci 5:15–18
Cervigón F (1993) Los peces marinos de Venezuela, 2nd edn, vol II. Fundación Científica Los Roques, Caracas, Venezuela
Collette BB (1995) Potamobatrachus trispinosus, a new freshwater toadfish (Batrachoididae) from the Rio Tocantins, Brazil. Ichthyol Explor Freshw 6:333–336
Collette BB (2001) Opsanus dichrostomus, a new toadfish (Teleostei: Batrachoididae) from the western Caribbean Sea and southern Gulf of Mexico. Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology the University of Michigan, no. 731
Freshwater DW, Khyn-Hansen C, Sarver SK, Walsh PJ (2000) Phylogeny of Opsanus spp (Batrachoididae) inferred from multiple mitochondrial-DNA sequences. Mar Biol 136:961–968
Gold J (1979) Cytogenetics. In: Hoar WS, Randall DJ (eds) Fish physiology, vol 8. Academic Press, New York, pp 353–405
Greenfield DW (1997) Allenbatrachus, a new genus of Indo-Pacific toadfish (Batrachoididae). Pac Sci 51:306–313
Greenfield DW, Mee JKL, Randall JE (1994) Bifax lacinaia, a new genus and species of toadfish (Batrachoididae) from the south coast of Oman. Fauna Saudia Arabia 14:276–281
Hoese HD, Moore RH (1998) Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico: Texas, Louisiana and adjacent waters. Texas A&M University Press, College Station
Howell WM, Black DA (1980) Controlled silver staining of nucleolus organizer regions with a protective colloidal developer: a 1-step method. Experientia 3:1014–1015
Lane ED (1967) A study of the Atlantic midshipman, Porichthys porosissimus, in the vicinity of Port Aransas, Texas. Contrib Mar Sci Univ Tex 12:1–53
LeGrande WH (1981) Chromosomal evolution in North American catfishes (Siluriformes: Ictaluridae) with particular emphasis on the m adtoms, Noturus. Copeia 1:33–52
Levan A, Fredga K, Sandberg AA (1964) Nomenclature for centromeric position on chromosomes. Hereditas 52:201–220
Moore RH (1970) Diurnal variations in the activity and metabolism of the Atlantic midshipman, Porichthys porosissimus. Contrib Mar Sci Univ Texas 15:33–43
Nelson JS (1994) Fishes of the world, 3rd edn. Wiley, New York
Nirchio M, Gómez J, Villalaz J (2002a) Cariotipo del pez sapo Batrachoides pacifici (Batrachoididae: Teleostei) de la costa del Pacífico de Panamá. Saber 13:82–84
Nirchio M, Turner BJ, Pérez JE, Gaviria JI, Cequea H (2002b) Karyotypes of three species of toadfish (Batrachoididae: Teleostei) from Margarita island, Venezuela. Sci Mar 66:3–4
Nirchio M, Fenocchio AS, Swarça AC, Dias AL, Giuliano-Caetano L, Ron E, Gaviria JI, Pérez JE (2004) Cytogenetic characterization of Thalassophryne maculosa Günther, 1861 (Pisces: Batrachoididae) from Margarita Island, Venezuela. Caribb J Sci (in press)
Ohno S (1974) Protochordata, Cyclostomata and Pisces. In: John B (ed) Animal cytogenetics, vol 4. Bornträger, Berlin
Palazón-Fernández JL, Arias AM, Sarasquete C (2001) Aspects of the reproductive biology of the toadfish, Halobatrachus didactylus (Schneider, 1801) (Pisces: Batrachoididae). Sci Mar 65:131–138
Palazón JL, Nirchio M, Sarasquete C (2003) Conventional karyotype and nucleolar organizer regions of the toadfish Halobatrachus didactylus (Schneider, 1801) (Pisces: Batrachoididae). Sci Mar 67:445–449
Rossi AR, Gornung E, Crosetti D, De Innocentiis S, Sola L (2000) Cytogenetic analysis of Oedalechilus labeo (Pisces: Mugilidae), with a report of NOR variability. Mar Biol 136:159–162
Sumner AT (1972) A simple technique for demonstrating centromeric heterocromatin. Exp Cell Res 75:304–306
Thode G, Cano J, Alvarez MC (1983) Associations of nucleolus organizer chromosomes shown by silver staining in Gobius fallax. J Hered 74:480–482
Vitturi R, Catalano E, Colomba M, Montagnino L, Pellerito L (1995) Karyotypes analysis of Aphanius fasciatus (Pisces, Cyprinodontiformes) Ag-NORs and C-band polymorphism in four populations from Sicily. Biol Zentralbl 114:392–402
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Communicated by P.W. Sammarco, Chauvin
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nirchio, M., Fenocchio, A.S., Swarça, A.C. et al. Karyology of the toadfish Porichthys plectrodon (Jordan and Gilbert, 1882) (Batrachoididae) from Margarita Island, Venezuela. Marine Biology 146, 161–165 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-004-1422-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-004-1422-7