Karyotype differentiation in 19 species of river loach fishes (Nemacheilidae, Teleostei): extensive variability associated with rDNA and heterochromatin distribution and its phylogenetic and ecological interpretation
2015
Abstract
Loaches of the family Nemacheilidae are one of the most speciose elements of Palearctic freshwater ichthyofauna and have undergone rapid ecological adaptations and colonizations. Their cytotaxonomy is largely unexplored; with the impact of cytogenetical changes on this evolutionary diversification still unknown.
An extensive cytogenetical survey was performed in 19 nemacheilid species using both conventional (Giemsa staining, C-banding, Ag-and Chromomycin A(3)/DAPI stainings) and molecular (fluorescence in situ hybridization with 5S rDNA, 45S rDNA, and telomeric (TTAGGG)(n) probes) methods. A phylogenetic tree of the analysed specimens was constructed based on one mitochondrial (cytochrome b) and two nuclear (RAG1, IRBP) genes.