Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Chromosome banding in amphibia

XVII. First demonstration of multiple sex chromosomes in amphibians: Eleutherodactylus maussi (Anura, Leptodactylidae)

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
Chromosoma Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A cytogenetic study performed on a population of the South American leptodactylid frog Eleutherodactylus maussi revealed multiple sex chromosomes of the X1X1X2X2♀/X1X2Y♂ (=XXAA♀/XXAY♂) type. The diploid chromosome number is 2n=36 in all females and 2n=35 in most males. The multiple sex chromosomes originated by a centric fusion between the original Y chromosome and a large autosome. In male meiosis the X1X2Y (=XXAY) multiple sex chromosomes form a classical trivalent configuration. E. maussi is the first species discovered in the class Amphibia that is distinguished by a system of multiple sex chromosomes. Only one single male was found in the population with 2n=36 chromosomes and lacking the Y-autosomal fusion. This karyotype (XYAA♂) is interpreted as the ancestral condition, preceding the occurrence of the Y-autosome fusion.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bogart JP (1970) Systematic problems in the amphibian family Leptodactylidae (Anura) as indicated by karyotypic analysis. Cytogenet Cell Genet 9:369–383

    Google Scholar 

  • Bogart JP (1973) Evolution of anuran karyotypes. In: Vial JL (ed) Evolutionary biology of the anurans. University of Missouri Press, Columbia, pp 337–349

    Google Scholar 

  • Bogart JP (1981) Chromosome studies in Sminthillus from Cuba and Eleutherodactylus from Cuba and Puerto Rico (Anura: Leptodactylidae). Life Sci Contrib 129:1–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Bull JJ (1983) Evolution of sex determining mechanisms. Benjamin/Cumming, Menlo Park, California

    Google Scholar 

  • Duellman WE, Trueb L (1986) Biology of the amphibians. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Frost DR (1985) Amphibian species of the world. Allen Press, Lawrence, Kansas

    Google Scholar 

  • Hillis DM, Green DM (1990) Evolutionary changes of heterogametic sex in the phylogenetic history of amphibians. J Evol Biol 3:49–64

    Google Scholar 

  • King M (1990) Amphibia. In: John B (ed) Animal cytogenetics, vol 4/2. Gebrüder Borntraeger, Berlin Stuttgart

    Google Scholar 

  • Lynch JD (1971) Evolutionary relationships, osteology, and zoogeography of leptodactyloid frogs. Misc Publ Mus Nat Hist Univ Kansas 53:1–238

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohno S (1967) Sex chromosomes and sex-linked genes. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Saitoh K (1989) Multiple sex-chromosome system in a loach fish. Cytogenet Cell Genet 52:62–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmid M (1978) Chromosome banding in Amphibia. I. Constitutive heterochromatin and nucleolus organizer regions in Bufo and Hyla. Chromosoma 66:361–388

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmid M (1980) Chromosome banding in Amphibia. IV. Differentiation of GC- and AT-rich chromosome regions in Anura. Chromosoma 77:83–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmid M (1983) Evolution of sex chromosomes and heterogametic systems in Amphibia. Differentiation 23:S13-S22

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmid M, Haaf T (1989) Origin and evolution of sex chromosomes in Amphibia: the cytogenetic data. In: Wachtel SS (ed) Evolutionary mechanisms in sex determinaton. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, pp 37–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmid M, Olert J, Klett C (1979) Chromosome banding in Amphibia. III. Sex chromosomes in Triturus. Chromosoma 71:29–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmid M, Haaf T, Geile B, Sims S (1983) Chromosome banding in Amphibia. VIII. An unusual XY/XX sex chromosome system in Gastrotheca riobambae (Anura, Hylidae). Chromosoma 88:69–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmid M, Nanda I, Steinlein C, Kausch K, Haaf T, Epplen JT (1991) Sex determining mechanisms and sex chromosomes in Amphibia. In: Green DM, Sessions SK (eds) Amphibian cytogenetics and evolution. Academic Press, New York (in press)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schweizer D (1976) Reverse fluorescent chromosome banding with chromomycin and DAPI. Chromosoma 58:307–324

    Google Scholar 

  • Vorontsov NN (1973) The evolution of the sex chromosomes. In: Chiarelli AB, Capanna E (eds) Cytotaxonomy and vertebrate evolution. Academic Press, London New York

    Google Scholar 

  • White MJD (1973) Animal cytology and evolution. Cambridge University Press, London New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson AC, Sarich VM, Maxson LR (1974) The importance of gene rearrangements in evolution: evidence from studies on rates of chromosomal, protein, and anatomical evolution. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 71:3028–3030

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Genetics, University of Würzburg, Biozentrum, Am Hubland, W-8700, Würzburg, Federal Republic of Germany

    M. Schmid, C. Steinlein & W. Feichtinger

Authors
  1. M. Schmid
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. Steinlein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. W. Feichtinger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

by H.C. Macgregor

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schmid, M., Steinlein, C. & Feichtinger, W. Chromosome banding in amphibia. Chromosoma 101, 284–292 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346007

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346007

Keywords

Search

Navigation