title: Karyological evidence for diversification of Italian slow worm populations (Squamata, Anguidae).
abstract: A karyological analysis on six Italian populations the slow worm (Anguis veronensis Pollini, 1818) was performed and their genetic differentiation at the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene fragment from a Spanish sample has been assessed. The Italian populations were karyologically uniform, all showing 2n=44 elements, of which 20 were macrochromosomes and 24 microchromosomes. Comparison with literature data on Central European populations showed a difference on the morphology of the 10(th) chromosome pair: submetacentric in Italian populations and telocentric in the Central European ones. Our analysis showed the presence of a fragile site on chromosomes of this pair, suggesting its propensity for structural rearrangements. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene fragment showed uniformity among Italian populations (uncorrected genetic distance of 0.4%), and their genetic distinctness from the Spanish individual (uncorrected genetic distance of 4.2%). Our results confirm the existence of two different Anguis fragilis Linnaeus, 1758 lineages, each one characterized by a different cytotype.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via Cinthia I- 80126 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mezzasalma
authors.forename: Fabio Maria
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Guarino
authors.forename: Gennaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aprea
authors.lastname: Agnese Petraccioli
authors.forename: Angelica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crottini
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Odierna
keywords: 16S rRNA; Anguis; Italian Peninsula; Karyotype; chromosome banding