BIOLOGICAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES
Cytogenetics and biogeography: considerations about the natural origin of Hoplias malabaricus (Characiformes, Erythrinidae) on the Iguaçu river
Marcelo Ricardo VicariI, *; Rubens PazzaI; Roberto Ferreira ArtoniII; Vladimir Pavan MargaridoIII; Luiz Antonio Carlos BertolloI
IUniversidade Federal de São Carlos; Departamento de Genética e Evolução; Via Washington Luís, km 235; C. P. 676; 13565-905; vicarimr@bol.com.br; São Carlos - SP - Brasil
IIUniversidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa; Departamento de Biologia Estrutural; Molecular e Genética; 84030-900; Ponta Grossa - PR - Brasil
IIIUniversidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná; Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde; 85814-110; Cascavel - PR - Brasil
Hoplias malabaricus (trahyra) is a widespread fish species over the Neotropical region with diversified inter-populational karyotypes (cytotypes), which may correspond to a species complex. Despite the wide distribution in the South American basins, some authors have questioned its natural origin in the Iguaçu river, an important Brazilian river basin which is characterized by several endemic fish species. We have analyzed the karyotype of H. malabaricus from different collection sites of this river, by conventional and banding methods. Our results, in addition to our previous data concerning geographic distribution of the cytotypes, contribute to better understand the origin of H. malabaricus on the Iguaçu river, reinforcing the proposition that it is a natural fish species in this river basin.
Key words: Chromosome evolution, karyotypes distribution, endemism
Braz. arch. biol. technol. vol.49 no.2 Curitiba Mar. 2006.