title: Karyotype, C-banding, and Ag-NOR analysis in Diplodus bellottii (Sparidae, Perciforms). Intra-individual polymorphism involving heterochromatic regions.
abstract: A karyotype analysis was carried out in nine specimens of the Sparid species Diplodus bellottii using conventional staining, as well as C-banding and Ag-NOR banding techniques, showing, respectively, 2n = 46 and fundamental number (FN) = 54, and scarce heterochromatic areas irregularly distributed and up to four NOR active regions that were C positive. When compared with the karyotypes of other related species, one centric fusion giving rise to a large metacentric pair and several pericentric inversions seem to have been involved in the karyotype evolution. An intra-individual polymorphism was detected in one specimen, resulting in two karyotypic forms in roughly identical proportion, owing to a larger C-band by the NOR regions, appearing either in a terminal position of the short arms of pair 2 or in telomeric position of pair 3. These findings suggest that the extra heterochromatic segment responsible for the heteromorphism apparently only involves associated heterochromatin and not the NORs themselves. This C-positive block seems to have eventually been transferred between heterologous NOR chromosomes by a somatic event, facilitated by the physical proximity of NOR pairs in the nucleolus.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amores
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reina
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Alvarez