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

Abstract

The family Phyllostomidae belongs to the most abundant and diverse group of bats in the Neotropics with more morphological traits variation at the family level than any other group within mammals. In this work, we present data of chromosome banding (G, C and Ag-NOR) and Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) for representatives of Rhinophylla pumilio Peters, 1865 collected in four states of Brazil (Amazonas, Bahia, Mato Grosso and Pará). Two karyomorphs were found in this species: 2n=34, FN=64 in populations from western Pará and Mato Grosso states and 2n=34, FN=62 from Amazonas, Bahia, and northeastern Pará and Marajó Island (northern). Difference in the Fundamental Number is determined by variation in the size of the Nucleolar Organizer Region (NOR) accompanied with heterochromatin on chromosomes of pair 16 or, alternatively, a pericentric inversion. The C-banding technique detected constitutive heterochromatin in the centromeric regions of all chromosomes and on the distal part of the long arm of pair 15 of specimens from all localities. FISH with a DNA telomeric probe did not show any interstitial sequence, and an 18S rDNA probe and silver staining revealed the presence of NOR in the long arm of the pair 15, associated with heterochromatin, and in the short arm of the pair 16 for all specimens. The intra-specific analysis using chromosome banding did not show any significant difference between the samples. The comparative analyses using G-banding have shown that nearly all chromosomes

Phylogenetic Reconstruction by Cross-Species Chromosome Painting and G-Banding in Four Species of Phyllostomini Tribe (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) in the Brazilian Amazon: An Independent Evidence for Monophyly

“…silvicola despite its wide geographical distribution. The karyotype of Phyllostomus discolor is similar to those described for Central American specimens [ 9 ], Southeastern and North Brazil [ 44 – 47 ].…”

“…PHA has 2n = 32 and FN = 58, PDI also has 2n = 32 but FN = 60, while LSI has 2n = 34 and FN = 60 and differs from PHA only by three chromosome pairs (LSI-13, 15 and 16). PDI and PHA have all chromosomes without rearrangements, except for a pericentric inversion in chromosome 15 [ 46 – 47 ] ( Fig 5 ).…”

“…hastatus ( Fig 5 ). We suggest that subsequent changes in the centromeric position of chromosome 15 as observed in other species of Phyllostomidae (eg., Rhinophylla pumilio , Glossophaga soricina and Mimon crenulatum , in Gomes et al [ 47 ]), are possibly due to amplification of ribosomal DNA cistrons, accumulation of constitutive heterochromatin or centromeric repositioning. Evolutionary studies in various organisms clearly indicate that centromeric repositioning is not a rare event in karyotype evolution and should be considered when examining the evolution of chromosome structure [ 49 ].…”

“…Despite other chromosomal modifications between the compared species, we observe that chromosome PHA-13 was derived from fission as found in the putative ancestral karyotype of leafed-nose bats [ 41 ], in the Phyllostomini tribe ( Fig 7 ), and possibly in the Phyllostominae subfamily. The fusioned form of this chromosome is shared between members of the genus Phyllostomus , and with Mimon crenulatum [ 47 ]. On the other hand, both on Lophostoma silvicola and Tonatia saurophila this chromosome is found on a fissioned way, but the fissioned segments were subsequently rearranged, with heterochromatin addition in Lophostoma silvicola .…”

“…From G-banding analysis it is possible to assume that these four chromosomes are present and fully preserved in the karyotypes of Mimon crenulatum and Phyllostomus discolor , both members of Phyllostomini [ 9 , 47 ] ( Fig 5 for PDI). On the other hand, in the karyotype of Tonatia saurophila these chromosomes are rearranged.…”