Abstract
A cytogenetic investigation of Hyla ebraccata Cope, H. microcephala Cope, and H. phlebodes Stejneger revealed that the karyotypes of these 30-chromosome Hyla are very conservative. With the exception of some structural rearrangements, only few differences in chromosomal morphology could be discerned. Based on our results, we hypothesize that the telomeric position of nucleolus organizer regions (NOR) on chromosome no. 10 may represent a derived condition in 30-chromosome Hyla. This cytotype was found only in the Caribbean population of H. ebraccata, Such within-species disparity has not been observed previously among amphibians. This phenomenon can most readily be explained by a translocation or insertion that rapidly drifted to high frequency in a small population.
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Kaiser, H., Mais, C., Bolaños, F. et al. Chromosomal investigation of three Costa Rican frogs from the 30-chromosome radiation of Hyla with the description of a unique geographic variation in nucleolus organizer regions. Genetica 98, 95–102 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00120223
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00120223