Biogeographical karyotypic variation of Rhinophylla fischerae (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) suggests the occurrence of cryptic species

Abstract

Abstract. The genus Rhinophylla Peters, 1865 (Carolliinae: Phyllostomidae) comprises three species: R. pumilio Peters, 1865, R. fi scherae Carter, 1966 and R. alethina Handley, 1966. Only the fi rst two species have been cytogenetically studied to date. Previous studies on specimens of Rhinophylla fi scherae from two populations from East of Andes (Colombia) showed the karyotype with 2n=34 and FN=56. In this paper, we report the results of cytogenetic analysis of six specimens of Rhinophylla fi scherae from Brazil. Probably chromosomal differences can be found among the populations because of the geographic distance. Metaphase chromosomes were obtained in the fi eld by direct extraction of bone marrow. The metaphases were analyzed by conventional staining, G-and C-banding, NOR-staining and FISH with telomeric probes. Rhinophylla fi scherae has 2n=38 and Fundamental Number FN=68, with small amounts of constitutive heterochromatin in the centromeric regions of the chromosomes and the long arm of pair 16. Fluorescence in situ hybridization using telomeric probes did not show any interstitial sequences. Hybridization with human 18S and 28S rDNA probes and silver staining revealed the presence of Nucleolar Organizer Regions at the long arms of pairs 16 and 18. The pattern of G-banding showed that this population had a huge chromosome variation compared with previous studies on specimens of Rhinophylla fi scherae. The chromosomal differences among populations that have been morphologically classifi ed as R. fi scherae suggest that this species should be considered a cryptic species complex, and that the populations from different geographical regions analyzed to date should be considered species of this complex, where the chromosomal rearrangements had key importance.

Chromosomal evolution and phylogeny in the Nullicauda group (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae): evidence from multidirectional chromosome painting

“…1b ). The results on G-, C-banding and Ag-NOR staining, FISH with telomeric and ribosomal DNA probes (not shown) are similar to those from literature [ 25 ].…”

“…When comparing these results with Colombian RFI [ 28 ], the karyotype of Colombian RFI is similar to the RPU analyzed here, which emphasizes the differences between RFI of the two regions (Colombia and Brazil). These differences support the hypothesis that postulate the RFI from Brazil as a new species [ 25 ], Rhinophylla aff. fischerae , based on its reproductive isolation from the RFI of Colombia (due to multiple chromosomal rearrangements).…”

Cytogenetics and DNA barcoding of the Round-eared bats, Tonatia (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae): a new karyotype for Tonatia bidens

“…The Ag-NORs described here for the new karyotype of T. bidens were observed on the smallest pair of acrocentric chromosomes (pair 13). The constitutive heterochromatin found in the pericentromeric region of the chromosomes of T. bidens and in the pericentromeric and interstitial regions of some of the chromosomes of T. saurophila was consistent with the pattern observed in other studies of phyllostomine bats , MORIELLE-VERSUTE et al 1996, SANTOS et al 2001, SILVA et al 2005, BARROS et al 2009, GOMES et al 2010.…”

Karyotypic variation in Rhinophylla pumilio Peters, 1865 and comparative analysis with representatives of two subfamilies of Phyllostomidae (Chiroptera)

“…The genus Carollia has two karyomorphs: 2n=20/21 with a multiple sex chromosome system (XX/XY 1 Y 2 ), observed in most species ( Yonenaga et al 1969 , Pathak et al 1973 , Stock 1975 , Baker 1979 , Varella-Garcia et al 1989 , Pieczarka et al 2005 ), and 2n=22 with simple sex chromosome system found only in Carollia benkeithi Solari & Baker, 2006. On the other hand, the genus Rhinophylla has diversified karyotypes with four karyomorphs for Rhinophylla pumilio ( Tables 1 and 2 ) and two for Rhinophylla fischerae ( Baker and Bleier 1971 , Baker 1979 , Baker et al 1987 , Gomes et al 2010 ). No karyotype has been described for Rhinophylla alethina .…”