Karyotypic characterization of Trachemys dorbigni (Testudines: Emydidae) and Chelonoidis (Geochelone) donosobarrosi (Testudines: Testudinidae), two species of Cryptodiran turtles from Argentina.
We describe for the first time the karyotypes of two species of Cryptodiran turtles from Argentina, namely, Trachemys dorbigni (Emydidae) and Chelonoidis (Geochelone) donosobarrosi (Testudinidae). The karyotype of T. dorbigni (2n = 50) consists of 13 pairs of macrochromosomes and 12 pairs of microchromosomes, whereas the karyotype of C. donosobarrosi (2n = 52) consists of 11 pairs of macrochromosomes and 15 pairs of microchromosomes. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with a (TTAGGG)n telomeric probe showed that the chromosomes of these species have four telomeric signals, two at each end, indicating that none of the chromosomes of T. dorbigni and C. donosobarrosi are telocentric. The fact that no interstitial telomeric signals were observed after FISH, suggests that interstitial telomeric sequences did not have a major role in the chromosomal evolution of these species. Additional data will be needed to elucidate if interstitial telomeric sequences have a major role in the karyotypic evolution of Testudines.
Martinez
Pablo A
PA
Departamento de Genetica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Campus Universitario, s/n, Lagoa Nova, Natal, RN, CEP 59078-970, Brazil. pablo_sc82@hotmail.com
Boeris
Juan M
JM
Sánchez
Julieta
J
Pastori
María C
MC
Bolzán
Alejandro D
AD
Ledesma
Mario A
MA
D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina; D005260:Female; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007621:Karyotyping / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008677:Metaphase / Q000235:genetics; D013045:Species Specificity; D014426:Turtles / Q000235:genetics*