The karyotypes of four species of Dyscophinae and eight species of Cophylinae were analyzed. The chromosome number was 2n=26 in all cases. Between the two subfamilies a difference in the form of the karyotype was observed; the chromosomes show a gradual decrease in length in the Dyscophinae, whereas in the Cophylinae the karyotype demonstrates a clear discontinuity of size between pairs 5 and 6.
Chromosomal polymorphism was found in Plethodontohyla tuberata, the chromosomes of pair 4 were subtelocentric in the homozygous specimens, whereas this pair showed a subtelocentric and a submetacentric chromosome of equal length in the heterozygous one, suggesting a pericentric inversion. Although in the Cophylinae the chromosome number is constant, the number of chromosome arms is variable. Pericentric inversions seem to play an important role in the chromosomal evolution of the Cophylinae.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bai, A. R. K. (1956). Analysis of chromosomes in two genera of Microhylidae (Amphibia: Anura). Proc. natn. Inst. Sci. India.22: 1–5.
Beçak, M. L., L. Denaro & W. Becak (1970). Polyploidy and mechanisms of karyotypic diversification in Amphibia. Cytogenetics 9: 225–238.
Blommers, R. (1971). Karyotype de Anodontohyla montana Angel (Anura, Microhylidae) du massif de l'Andringitra (Madagascar). Terre malg. 10: 261–265.
Cole, C. J. & R. G. Zweifel (1971). Chromosomes of a new guinean Microhylid frog, Cophixalus riparius Zweifel. Herpetol. Rev. 3: 15–16.
Levan, A. et al. (1964). Nomenclature for centromeric position on chromosomes. Hereditas 52: 201–220.
Matthey, R. (1966). Une inversion péricentrique à l'origine d'un polymorphisme chromosomique non- robersonien dans une population de Mastomys (Rodentia-Murinae). Chromosoma 18: 178–188.
Matthey, R. & M. Jotterand (1970). Nouveau système polymorphe non-robersonien chez des Leggadas (Mus sp.) de république Centrafricaine. Rev. suisse. Zool. 77: 630–635.
Morescalchi, A. (1967). Le relazioni tra il cariotipo di anuri diplasioceli: 1. Il corredo cromosomico di aleuni Ranidae. Caryologia 20: 65–85.
Morescalchi, A. (1968a). Initial cytotaxonomic data on certain families of Amphibians Anura (Diplasiocoela after Noble). Experientia 24: 280–283.
Morescalchi, A. (1968b). Hypotheses on the phylogeny of the Salientia, based on karyological data. Experientia 24: 964–966.
Morescalchi, A. (1973). Amphibia. In: A. B. Chiarelli & E. Capanna (Eds.), Cytotaxonomy and Vertebrate evolution. Academic Press, London-New York.
Natarajan, R. (1953). A note on the chromosomes of Cacopus systoma. Proc. 40th Indian Sci. Congr. Lucknow, 180–181.
Noble, K. & H. W. Parker (1926). A synopsis of the brevicipitid toads of Madagascar. Am. Mus. Novit. 232: 1–21.
Noble, K. (1931). The biology of the Amphibia. Dover Publications, Inc. New York.
Ohno, S., C. Weiler, J. Poole, L. Christian & C. Stenius (1966). Autosomal polymorphism due to pericentric inversions in the Deer Mouse (Peromyscus manicatus), and some evidence of somatic segregation. Chromosoma 18: 177–187.
Parker, H. W. (1934). A monograph of the frogs of the family Microhylidae. British Mus. (Nat. Hist.), London.
Rabello, M. N. (1970). Chromosomal studies in Brazilian Anurans. Caryologia 23: 45–59.
Sato, I. (1936). Notes on the chromosomes of Cacopoides tornieri and Bufo radderi Zool. Mag. 48: 958–960.
White, M. J. D. (1969). Chromosomal rearrangements and speciation in animals. Ann. Rev. Genet. 3: 75–98.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Blommers-Schlösser, R.M.A. Chromosomal analysis of twelve species of Microhylidae (Anura) from Madagascar. Genetica 46, 199–210 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00121036
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00121036