Abstract
The chromosomes of four killifish species (F. diaphanus, F. heteroclitus, F. majalis and F. parvipinnis) and a hybrid (F. diaphanus × F. heteroclitus) were studied. The karyotype studies were based on observations from both squash and air-dry preparations, the latter of which were prepared from in vitro primary cell cultures from ovaries. The consistent presence of one to several pairs of species-specific marker chromosomes, and the differential expression of acrocentric short arms in karyotypes of different species were useful in determining interspecific relationships. These characters did not show any noticeable variation interand intra-individually, and retained their original forms even in the hybrid complement which was the composite of chromosome complements of both parental species. Male heterogamety was confirmed in F. diaphanus and F. parvipinnis in which the X chromosomes resemble each other being submetacentric and having an identifiable secondary constriction. The occurrence of the cytological heterogamety in fishes is briefly discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Beçak, W., Beçak, M. L., Nazareth, H. R. S., Ohno, S.: Close karyological kinship between the reptilian suborder Serpentes and the class Aves. Chromosoma (Berl.) 15, 606–617 (1964).
Benirschke, K., Malouf, N.: Chromosome studies of Equidae. Equus 1, 253–284 (1967).
Chen, T. R.: Comparative karyology of selected deep-sea and shallow-water teleost fishes. Ph. D. Thesis Yale Univ. (1967).
—: Karyological heterogamety of deep-sea fishes. Postula 130, 1–29 (1969).
— Handling of fish chromosomes: in vitro methodology from ovarian cell culture. (In manuscript.)
Chen, T. R., Ebeling, A. W.: Probable male heterogamety in the deep-sea fish Bathylagus wesethi (Teleostei: Bathylagidae). Chromosoma (Berl.) 18, 88–96 (1966).
—— Karyological evidence of female heterogamety in the mosquitofish Gambusia affinis (Baird and Girard). Copeia 1968, 70–75.
Miller, R. R.: An annotated list of the American cyprinodontid fishes of the genus Fundulus, with the description of Fundulus persimilis from Yucatan. Occ. Pap. Mus. Zool. Univ. Mich. 568, 1–25 (1955).
Moenkhaus, W. J.: The development of the hybrid between Fundulus heteroclitus and Menidia notata with special reference to the behavior of the maternal and paternal chromatin. Amer. J. Anat. 3, 29–65 (1904).
Ohno, S., Beçak, W., Beçak, M. L.: X-autosome ratio and the behavior pattern of individual X-chromosomes in placental mammals. Chromosoma (Berl.) 15, 14–30 (1964).
—, Stenius, C., Christian, L. C., Beçak, W., Beçak, M. L.: Chromosomal uniformity in the avian subclass Carinatae. Chromosma (Berl.) 15, 280–288 (1964).
Pinney, E.: A study of the relation of the behavior of the chromatin to development and heredity in teleost hybrids. J. Morph. 31, 225–291 (1918).
Post, A.: Vergleichende Untersuchungen der Chromosomenzahlen bei Süßwasser-Teleosteern. Z. Zool.-Syst. Evolut.-Forsch. 3, 47–93 (1965).
Setzer, P. Y.: A karyological analysis of members of the genus Fundulus. MA thesis, Univ. of Texas, Austin (1968).
Snedecor, G. W.: Statistical methods, 5th ed. Ames: Iowa State College Press 1957.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chen, T.R., Ruddle, F.H. A Chromosome study of four species and a hybrid of the killifish genus Fundulus (Cyprinodontidae). Chromosoma 29, 255–267 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00325942
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00325942